5. ALLAN PEACHEY (National—Tāmaki) Link to this
to the Minister for Tertiary Education
What progress has been made on the Government’s summer research scholarships?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister for Tertiary Education) Link to this
I am pleased to tell the House that 1,600 places for the summer research scholarships that the Government promised and jointly funded with the New Zealand universities have been filled. Many of these students started their scholarships last week and will be beginning their placements in universities, so that they can further their studies and gain some income over the summer months.
The scholarships were first mooted at the Prime Minister’s Job Summit at the beginning of the year, and the Government agreed to meet the universities dollar for dollar up to $4 million in Budget 2009. These opportunities are important for the young people who have obtained them, and these extra places also help to free up other job opportunities for students over the summer period.
Hon Maryan Street Link to this
How do the short-term summer scholarships help the 2,000 - plus mainly low-decile students who had their Step Up and bonded merit scholarships scrapped by this Government?
Again, I say to that member that $521 million was promised by the previous Government in tertiary education and not funded. There were some changes to some of those smaller programmes, but they have been well taken care of. I remind the member of the 2,000 Youth Guarantee places that will be funded next year and will take many of those students.