Call for urgent action on postgraduate allowances
THE Otago University Students Association is getting on board with a national petition encouraging the Government to urgently bring back promised postgraduate allowances, saying some students are unable to meet their living expenses.
A petition was launched on Wednesday asking Education Minister Chris Hipkins to include postgraduate allowances in May’s budget.
OUSA president Caitlin BarlowGroome said OUSA was encouraging Otago students to get involved with the petition, which could be signed online and asked the Government for a start date.
She knew of University of Otago students whose postgraduate study was ‘‘so intense that they have to move back home’’.
‘‘They couldn’t afford their rent and food costs.’’
Trying to work and complete a postgraduate course at the same time also put strain on students, she said.
The National government scrapped the allowances in 2013.
Labour announced prior to the election last year they would be restored to students if the party returned to power.
In January this year, the Government made good on other promises to boost student allowances by $50 and to provide a feesfree year of study to firstyear students, but postgraduate student allowances were left out of Labour’s 100dayplan.
Mr Hipkins said at the time the allowances would be considered in the Budget.
By yesterday afternoon, nationwide more than 460 people had signed the petition.
‘‘Restoring the postgraduate allowance isn’t just good for students, it’s good for the country,’’ the petition said.
‘‘Across Aotearoa, postgraduate students are studying in fields that are crucial to our country’s future success — clinical psychology, teaching and learning, and environmental studies to name a few.’’
A university media spokeswoman said yesterday the university had 2992 equivalent fulltime students (Efts) enrolled in postgraduate enrolments, up from 2806 Efts at the same point last year, an increase of 4.1%.
Enrolments in taught postgraduate courses rose by 62 Efts, while enrolments in postgraduate research increased by 64 Efts.