The first-year scheme will close to new entrants at the end of the year.<\/p>\n
“Learners entering their final year of study from January 2025 will be eligible, and payment will be made following completion of their study programme,” according to the Government.<\/p>\n
The first payments under the new system will be made to learners after January 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
The Tertiary Education Minister said funding the final year of study would result in better educational outcomes while also saving money.<\/p>\n
The change to the programme will free up $877 million over four years. The Budget announcement also helps fulfil a New Zealand First coalition commitment.<\/p>\n
“Every education dollar must be applied to its maximum value,” Simmonds said.<\/p>\n
“The first-year fees free policy was an expensive failure and did not deliver its aim of more students going into tertiary education, nor did it increase participation rates.”<\/p>\n
Officials confirmed to 1News there would be no double dipping, with the final year scheme ineligible for students who have already benefitted from first-year fees-free.<\/p>\n
Simmonds said: “We\u2019re changing the fees free scheme from the first year to the last year of study, which is a much better way to incentivise students to complete their studies.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re rewarding hard work and success and delivering on our coalition agreement commitment with New Zealand First.”<\/p>\n
Fees-free study during a student’s first year was introduced under the previous Labour government. Introduced in 2018, the first-year scheme was originally intended to be expanded to cover additional years – which ultimately did not eventuate.<\/p>\n
The existing programme covers fees of up to $12,000 for first-time learners in their first year of provider-based study or their first two years of work-based training.<\/p>\n
National criticised the scheme since its introduction but did not specifically campaign on getting rid of it. Coalition partners ACT and New Zealand First both pledged to scrap it.<\/p>\n
This year’s Budget also provides a small boost for tertiary and training institutions.<\/p>\n
ONE NEWS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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