Student Support

Press, 25 August 1988, Page 20

Student Support

Sir, —There appears to be an anomaly in the Student Support Scheme which, hopefully, will be addressed before the bill is passed by Parliament. With this new scheme, brighter, hardworking pupils now in the seventh form, whose eighteenth birthday falls after January, 1989, and whose parents are in the middle-income bracket ($35,500) will no longer be given any financial assistance in their first year at a tertiary institution. Their 18-year-old counterparts, however, are automatically entitled to $43 a week, even if still at school where expenses are much lower than they are at the tertiary level. There are few well-paid holiday jobs available and students may be faced with increased tuition fees and rising prices for textbooks. This, together with lack of financial support, could, in effect, preclude 17-year-old students from taking up their rightful place in tertiary education, especially if there are other children in the family. — Yours, etc., (Mrs) NAN ELDERTON. August, 1, 1988.

[The Minister of Education, Mr Lange, replies: “The purpose of the youth allowance package is to encourage post-compulsory education, especially to young people whose families are less able to provide support. It is based on the premise that parents have some responsibility for the cost of maintaining their children in education, particularly for younger aged groups, dependent on their ability to pay. As well as providing support which is consistent and equitable, the increasing independence of young people as they grow older is recognised. I have noted Mrs Elderton’s concerns over the treatment of 17-year-olds entering tertiary education. Those from low-income families, of course, will be much better off under the new system. However, this matter will receive careful consideration when the package is reviewed after a year or so of operation. I can confirm that those students who turn 18 during the year will immediately become eligible for the higher rate of payment. Mrs Elderton also comments that the number of children in the family is not included as a factor in the parental income test. The Government is concerned that the package is already somewhat complex and, for this reason, the number of children was not included. This factor will also be given consideration when the scheme is evaluated.”]