Little hints at student debt writeoffs policy
“[Labour] is looking at ways we can assist students to effectively write off at least a part of that student debt" – Little. With special feature audio.
The Labour party is looking into a policy that would off write off student debt, Andrew Little has revealed.
The Labour leader let the yet-to-be-announced policy slip on Victoria University’s student radio station Salient.
“[Labour] is looking at ways that we can assist students to effectively write off at least a part of that student debt." This would involve such ideas as graduates taking a public service job somewhere in a more rural setting and having their loan written off depending on how long they stayed there, which bears similarities to the 1960s teacher bond scheme.
New Zealand student debt is about $15 billion, with more than 700,000 students owing money.
Mr Little told Salient Labour would have more to say on some upcoming education policies, including one that will affect tertiary students.
Mr Little did not rule out extending the policy to the private sector.
Labour’s education spokesman Chris Hipkins will be speaking to NBR later today.
Disclaimer: NBR reporter Jason Walls still has a student loan.
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Jason Walls
Wed, 10 Aug 2016
Wed, 10 Aug 2016
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Little hints at student debt writeoffs policy
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