The Cost of Education

Are free student allowances an election bribe the country cant afford?
If education is free, why do parents have to pay?

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[suzievesper]

In the UK, young kids are put through numerous 'tests' to meet standards. In these high stakes tests, there is immense pressure put on the kids to pass. I taught there and kids were wetting beds due to the stress. The curriculum was also narrowed right down for those kids - the focus was only on core academic subjects and everything else went out the window. Our new revised curriculum is leading the world - let's not slide back to 'no child left behind' type policy that has failed the US and UK.

[amanda1bone36]

having more tests for kids will not keep maori boys in school, people who leave school arent interested in the crap school teaches, just like helen said, so therefore offering alternative education is a way better idea than helping parents understand grades and what they mean.

[georgeh1231]

omg john you havent done much to help education aparantly your going to vut early childhood education AGAIN very soon after you have raising standards wont help. helen clarke was infinty times better

[AlanCom1]

A govt that would give "free" allowance, so they can be taxed to death once they get a read job and pay for others "free" allowances.

[mypetcrocigator]

Ah, well that sucks then. I can understand not being allowed to go if they don't pay camp payments but it should have nothing to do with the donation.  If the family is poor then they should get some compassion.

[9Willbur9]

Yeah, the camps aren't govt funded, which I can understand, but participation was allowed only if you had paid the schools 'donation'. In other words, if you dont pay the fees (those that are seperate from camp payments etc) then the child is not allowed to participate, making the very idea of a 'donation' a farce.

[mypetcrocigator]

Yeah I'd imagine camps etc wouldn't be government funded :(

[mypetcrocigator]

Yeah, if the students will use it for their study alone then great! But too many I know would just spend more on alcohol and the taxpayer shouldn't have to fund someone's drinking habit.

[CommunistNewZealand]

education? this dross, up here, these right-wingers, need to be sent to the Gulags

[9Willbur9]

Queen Helen does not seem to realize that although it is not mandatory for parents to pay school fees, not paying them results in penalties for the child. When I was in high school there were penalties in the form of not being allowed to attend school trips unless fees were paid, hardly a donation.

[Elementum24]

I'm taking a double degree in Architecture and Philosophy, and as such I value study time more than working unnecessary hours to earn some green. The psychological implications netted by beneficial student allowance policies will further the gap between the hard-working and the lazy (people mucking around will use the money to further their indulgent habits, hard-working people will save it etc). Interesting having capitalist elements coming from Labour policies.

[westyboy1977]

Shane asks if Maori have been failed because 1 in 2 have failed level 1 NCEA, what bull shit! What are the stats for all the white fellas out there? That is almost a form of discrimination for suggesting that Maori need special attention whan all they fought for over the last 100 years is equality!