Roman Travers: State-funded tertiary education based upon success will help NZ succeed and grow

With the ongoing cost of living crisis confronting us all, there’s greater pressure than ever on parents to help their children get to where they need to be. Confronted by rising mortgage and rent prices, along with those grocery items being pushed onto the luxury side of the shopping list; it’s no wonder that we’re now seeing more tertiary students feeling the financial pinch. Universities and students' associations warn rising living costs are whacking our students especially hard this year. Staff that are left dealing with student welfare say that university financial pressure is causing serious mental health problems. Many students are struggling to afford food, rent and other bills and studying has become harder than ever.   At an age where the future should be anything but frightening, it’s so sad to see that financial problems are now the main cause of mental health difficulties for our university students. The last thing we need more of is growing rates of depression, anxiety, despair, low mood and low engagement that are being seen with many of our university students. Stretched finances have always been part of student life, but this increasing challenge goes far beyond anything seen before in New Zealand. Just as one example of the increasing financial stress is the amount of financial assistance students need. In 2022, most students averaged $393 - but in 2023 it's $653. Vastly more students are working and having to work longer hours to make ends meet which of course puts more pressure on them in terms of what they need to do to gain their qualifications and to enjoy healthy aspects of normal life.   Is it time to consider going back to a fully funded tertiary education system for those that succeed in gaining their degree?   If New Zealand is going to succeed economically and continue to grow, we need our tertiary students to succeed - not to add to the growing numbers relying on a seriously depleted health care system.   State funded tertiary education based upon success may well prove the cheaper option.   What’s the cost to the country if we let the situation get worse?  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.