Youth spending applauded

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: May 13 2004
For: Immediate Release

Youth spending applauded.

The Aotearoa Tertiary Students Association (ATSA) is pleased the government is starting to address issues for youth in New Zealand today.

The net effect of involving marginalised groups in tertiary education is less need to support those groups long term. This is a positive outcome for all New Zealanders

“The initiatives proposed, such as career planning and access to the Training Incentive Allowance (TIA), will create a path to tertiary education that was not previously available to some youth. We would encourage the government to bring forward more positive initiatives that create pathways to tertiary education for other groups, for example, second chance learners." says President of ATSA Julie Pettett.

The introduction of a ‘youth transitions service’ to support young people into tertiary education is a welcome step.

Assisting youth through this package will have a direct benefit on the rate of retention in tertiary education.” says ATSA president Julie Pettett.

The government has promised spending of $57 million over four years, to get young people into training education and work.

Although ATSA applaud the governments proposed initiatives to support youth with their transition to tertiary education ATSA questions the extent of the support available. “It’s all very well to give them a leg up, says Pettett, but in terms of financial help what is going to keep them there?”

ENDS

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