Levett shows true colours

"Student bursaries should be abolished." Such is the belief of Labour Party candidate and Victoria University Sociology lecturer, Dr Allan Levett. Was it really the Labour Party that introduced the Standard Tertary Bursary in 1975?

At a recent meeting of the Thordon branch of the Labour Party, Levett attacked "middle-class bludging" asserting that student bursaries were an example of Government spending that encouraged dependency and failed to promote initiative. His solution was a system of student loans, whereby people borrowed while they were students and paid back when they were earning. "Maybe more would go out and work first."

What a load of twisted, right-wing nonsense! For a start, Livett's statement that students are "middle-class bludgers" is not only untrue but an insult to those students who come from working-class backgrounds and who struggle their way through tertary education.

And in proposing a system of loans Dr Levett takes no account of the present economic situation. Given the wrsening level of unemployment among school leavers and graduates, to assert that students should work before they come to a tertiary institute or would be able to pay back massive loans after leaving is not only inhumane but ludricrous.

Levett completely ignores the immense difficulties already faced by students from working class backgrounds in gaining access to tertiary study. And they would find it even more difficult if they had to pay back loans, presumably at the current rate of interest when they left.

While the majority of students do come from middle class homes, most do not wish to be a burden upon their parents but look for the independence and initiative that Mr Mr Levett holds so high.

However sucessive governments' inaction on bursary increases and the declining ability to gain work in the long vacation make this a distant prospect for many students.

Over the last long vacation approximately 15% of all full-time tertiary students were either registered as unemployed or on government job creation schemes.

Introducing student loans would have the effect of narrowing even further the type of student who would complete a tertiary course of study.

Only the most "enterprising and indepent" would be allowed to enter Dr Levett's institutes of higher learning. Independent that is, of any form of government support and "enterprising" can surely only mean those who can firstly find a job and secondly work their arses off earning enough to pay for the priviledge (not the right!) of attending a tertiary institute! While those with the parental support can rest easy.

Anti-student attitudes such as Dr Levett's must be opposed.

Virginia Adams