The future prosperity of New Zealand depends on a well-educated workforce and a vibrant higher education sector that works to keep our best and brightest in New Zealand and benefit from their great ideas and energy.
Our Tertiary Education Policy, released on October 7, balances the need to keep further education within the reach of all New Zealanders, ensuring that the sector is funded to the largest extent possible in these tough times.
We cannot afford to keep seeing our best talent disappearing offshore and watching our universities slip further down the world rankings as they have done in the past two years.
Under Labour’s Policy, we will
- Retain the fees maxima system at its current rate of 4% to keep fees under control. It is currently under threat from this Government
- Maintain University funding (at the rate of inflation at least) and increase funding as finances allow ensuring that our universities remain internationally competitive
- Invest $6 million to reinstate the recently cancelled Post-Doctoral Fellowships for PhD graduates so that they are supported into research careers in New Zealand instead of overseas
- Establish a scheme for better funding brilliant scientists. Funding would be portable to allow scientists to take it to the most appropriate institution, purchase equipment, recruit staff and attract other world leaders in the field to New Zealand
- Repeal the changes put in place as a result of the Government’s Voluntary Student Membership Legislation
- Restore $13 million cut from Adult and Community Education (ACE) funding to improve access to adult and community education
- Restore $2 million to the Training Incentive Allowance
Labour’s Policy recognises New Zealand’s current financial difficulties, while taking the required steps to ensure we are poised to quickly bounce back when the economy turns.
It builds on our earlier announcements of 5000 additional places for 16 and 17 year-olds at polytechnics and institutes of technology. We will provide for 9000 extra apprenticeships and restore R&D tax credits. We will make further announcements on skills to bolster these efforts.
Easing the burden
We have also moved to keep education affordable at a time when many New Zealanders are struggling.
Our polices of the first $5000 a year income being tax free, GST off fresh fruit and vegetables and lifting the minimum wage to $15 an hour will put more money in the pockets of full and part-time students to help them continue their studies.
The quality of our tertiary sector underpins our economic success as a country.
It enhances our ability to innovate and grow, enables individuals to reach their potential and lifts both individual prosperity and the overall health of our society.
Importantly, it encourages participation in our country’s future through healthy and well-informed debates and policy developed based on evidence.
A workforce with greater educational and skill levels is directly linked to higher worker productivity that is critical to the growth of the New Zealand economy, which suffers from one of the lowest levels of labour productivity in the OECD.
Essential investment
Our education system is world class but, unless it receives sustained investment in both research and teaching, it is likely to fall behind.
Like-sized developed countries, such as Finland, Denmark and Singapore, have experienced high levels of economic growth by focusing on excellent research, innovation and maintaining a high quality of graduates and a skilled workforce.
We need to lift our sights and better translate the high quality of our schools into the tertiary sector.
The global recession has highlighted education as an essential investment to respond to the changes in technology and employment.
We do not know exactly the make-up of the future workforce. But we know that our rapidly changing economy and society will demand not only a higher proportion of our young people holding a tertiary qualification but also our entire workforce having the opportunity to continually up-skill and retrain.
Access to quality tertiary education for all New Zealanders, throughout their working life therefore is at the heart of Labour’s vision for our future.
Student Associations
Labour believes that student associations play a critical role in the success of students in tertiary institutions. This includes direct welfare and pastoral support, advocacy with tertiary institutions, government departments and other agencies and provision of sporting, cultural, entertainment, media services.
These services are generally provided in a very cost-effective way, and are run by students for students.
Over the years, student associations have been behind the creation and development of some of the major initiatives that have supported students such as Student Job Search, University Games, student newspapers and radio, student health and counselling services, hardship funds, subsidised bus transport, gym and recreation facilities, clubs and societies facilities, bookshops and much more.
National and ACT have enacted legislation that would make membership of student associations voluntary from the beginning of next year if they win the election.
We know from experience in Australia that such a move will destroy many student associations, significantly reduce the services and advocacy that they provide and lead to a loss of control by students of student affairs.
Repeal changes
Labour will repeal the changes put in place as a result of the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill and replace it with enduring legislation that will secure the critical role student associations play, based on the amendments Labour has put forward during the debate.
David Shearer is an elected Labour Member of Parliament from the Mt Eden Constituency in Auckland and the Party’s Spokesperson for Tertiary Education.
