Students may get help with debt

The Government has indicated the budget will contain measures to ease student debt.

"We know more needs to be done and we are progressively improving student loan and allowance rules," Associate Education Minister David Benson-Pope said in response to a report showing new teachers owed an average $23,187.

"I can't go into detail at this stage because of the budget process."

The report by the University Students Association (NZUSA) and the Educational Institute (NZEI) surveyed 841 teachers working in the early childhood and primary school sector.

It found 70 per cent of teachers felt stressed because of their student loan and 48 per cent who left New Zealand said their loan was the main reason for going overseas.

Mr Benson-Pope said the average loan held by teachers was lower than for other graduates.

"The median student loan debt for graduating teachers in 2002 was $2500 less than the median for all bachelor degree graduates," he said in a statement.

"Since 2002 significant improvements have been made to student support which have helped make tertiary education more affordable."

NZEI president Colin Tarr said the researched showed that almost all new teachers carried "staggering" debt burdens.

NZUSA co-president Andrew Kirton said forcing teachers into debt while they trained would have consequences for society and children.

"Teacher education is in crisis and the Government cannot deny that their policy of very high fees and restricted student allowances for teacher trainees is the cause of the problem," he said.

Mr Benson-Pope released his own statistical data which showed graduate teachers were less inclined to go overseas than others.

He blamed the previous National-led government for allowing student debt to "spiral out of control".

He said student fees increased 40 per cent from an average $2514 in 1997 to $3531 by the time Labour delivered its first budget in 2000.

- NZPA