工党：国家党应出面就学生贷款政策变化作解释

工党副党魁、高等教育与技能培训事务发言人格兰特罗伯森（Grant Robertson　　约翰•基和斯蒂文•乔伊斯必须当面向学生们说明他们计划怎么改动学生贷款政策。　　工党高等教育事务发言人格兰特•罗伯

　　工党高等教育事务发言人格兰特•罗伯森（Grant Robertson）说：约翰基已经向一位商界人士表示说国家党要“对正广受欢迎的学生贷款政策严加控制”。基总理应当解释清楚他说这话究竟是什么意思。是不是意味着像他们在上一届执政期间所做的那样，会进一步增加对申请学生贷款的限制？

　　对于众多新西兰人来说，学生贷款是他们解决学费的唯一途径，总理随随便便就发表如此耸动的声明是不负责任的。现在他应当就此向学生们解释清楚究竟计划对学生贷款政策怎么改动。

　　在给即将上任的高等教育部长的简报中，很大一部分内容是秘而不宣的，其中便包括关于学生费用资助的部分。政府显然有计划在酝酿中但拒绝说出实情。

　　国家党上届执政时，改变学生贷款政策使55岁以上的学生无法再贷到生活费。在失业人口非常多的时候，这一改变实际阻止了一些人接受再培训的机会。

　　上次大选，工党承诺要重新审视学生贷款政策，确保政策的改动不会伤及有能力的学生继续学习或接受培训。国家党应当作出同样的承诺。

　　工党支持采取行动向海外的欠款人追讨学生贷款。如果这就是国家党所谓对学生贷款“严加控制”的内容，那是再好不过，然而约翰基日前的言论暗示是要出台对贷款申请更多的限制。

　　约翰基已经清楚表态基于政治因素考量他只能延续工党的免息学生贷款政策。他对于为学生提供支持的承诺则是非常表面的。

　　Grant   
　　ROBERTSON
　　Deputy Leader
　　Tertiary Education, Skills and Training Spokesperson                      

　　13 March 2012                                                         MEDIA STATEMENT

　　National should front up to students on loan changes

　　John Key and Steven Joyce need to front up to students about the changes they are planning to make to the student loan scheme, says Labour’s Tertiary Education spokesperson Grant Robertson.

　　“John Key has told a business audience that National would “rein in the student loan scheme big time”.   He needs to explain to students exactly what that means.  Will it be further measures to limit access to the scheme, like those put in place during the last term of government?

　　“Student loans are the only way of financing study for many New Zealanders and it is irresponsible for the Prime Minister to make big statements off the cuff like this.  He now needs to explain to students what changes are being planned. 

　　“In the briefing to the incoming Tertiary Education Minister, there were large sections withheld, including on student support. The government clearly has something planned but is refusing to be upfront about it. 

　　“During the last term of Parliament, the student loan policy was changed to prevent people over 55 from borrowing for their living costs.  At a time of high unemployment, this action is preventing some people from re-training.  

　　“At the last election, Labour committed to reviewing all the changes made to the loan scheme to ensure they were not preventing capable students from study or training.  National should make the same commitment.

　　“Labour supports measures to chase up borrowers who go overseas to ensure they pay back their loans.  If that is the extent of National’s ‘reining in’ of the loan scheme that is well and good, but John Key’s big talk today implies more restrictions on eligibility are on the way.

　　“John Key has made clear that he is only continuing Labour’s interest free loan policy for political reasons.  His commitment to providing student support is clearly skin deep.”  Grant Robertson said.