NZUSA and NZMSASaturday 30 May 2009, 10:17AM
The Government has slashed $98 million dollars worth of
scholarships in its recent budget announcement, which has not sat
well with students.
"Students are dismayed at the scholarship cut. The Government has
essentially resurrected financial barriers to tertiary education"
said Ms Sophia Blair, Co-President of the New Zealand Union of
Students' Associations.
The New Zealand Medical Students' Association has also expressed
concern about the loss. "With fewer scholarships available to
students, we are only going to see higher levels of student debt.
Debt has consistently been shown to have an adverse impact on the
New Zealand medical workforce," said William Perry, President of
the New Zealand Medical Students' Association.
The Step Up Scholarship is one of many scholarships that have been
disestablished. It was introduced by the Labour Government in 2004
primarily to provide equity of access for lower income entrants to
tertiary education courses.
"These scholarships were an important part of addressing financial
barriers to medical education. We are now worried that prospective
medical students, particularly those from lower socioeconomic
backgrounds, will be deterred from applying for medicine out of
concern over the large debt accrued by graduation," said Mr
Perry.
"It is important that every New Zealander who wants to undertake
medical training and reaches admission requirements to do so can.
Equity is important, and the Step Up Scholarships helped to closer
attain this."
The Step Up Scholarship also encouraged students to stay and work
in New Zealand. "We are currently experiencing a medical workforce
crisis, and need to encourage medical students and junior doctors
to stay in New Zealand. They are more likely to do this with low
student debt and Government support, such as the Step Up
Scholarship," said Mr Perry.
The Government has recently acknowledged the reality of the
workforce crisis and importance of junior doctor retention. Mr
Perry said, however, that the Government has seemingly overlooked
that these scholarships were an important piece of the puzzle.