Friday, 28 January 2005

Ogilvy: Students becoming the 'elite poor'

The Labour Government is turning a generation of educated young Kiwis into the "elite poor", United Future education spokesman Bernie Ogilvy said today.

"Labour has promised much, and tinkered even more, but it hasn't even begun to fix the problem," he said.

The Government was playing "mean money games" with its traditional working and middle class voters, Mr Ogilvy said, given students from those families were hardest hit.

"United Future believes that while students should makes some contribution to their course fees, they should not have to borrow for living expenses while they study."

He said bonding schemes in certain key disciplines and incentivised saving schemes for parents to save for their children's education from an early age should also be promoted.

"The Government must realise that it cannot go on piling debt upon debt on young people.

"It must not allow the continuing blocks that make it incredibly difficult for students to marry, have kids and buy a home - the things that every other generation of New Zealanders has taken for granted," Mr Ogilvy said.

ENDS

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