Problems with Loans

The last speaker, Grant Liddell, said that Levett ignored the faults of the loan system. There were problems when it came to paying back the loans resulting from different incomes of different professions, conflict of interest; new family, marriage, house. In countries with loan systems many students changed names or left the country / area to avoid repayment.

Levett's implication that students only supported the bursary system because it was the existing one was not true. NZUSA and other student groups give a great deal of scrutiny to other means of financing students. It is their belief that bursaries do work and are fair in their attempts to make education possible and place people on an equal footing.

Liddell also said students do have a de facto commitment to society as future tax payers as well as contributions as individuals.

But Liddell said if students want to see the $9 increase and improvements to the bursary system they must get up and do something. The $9 raise has a low priority and unless students demonstrate that they are prepared to act for the increase they will not get it.

March April 11!

Victoria Quade