This could be the last time students can enrol in the Southern Institute of Technology’s zero fees scheme, as the Government moves to dismantles it and bring all polytechnics under one fee structure, National’s Tertiary Education spokesperson and Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds says.
“It’s going to be a disaster if Southland loses zero fees and it’s heart-breaking that this could indeed be its final year in our province.
“It’s all part of the Government’s polytechnic mega-merger Te Pukenga, which has seen the country’s 16 polytechnics merged into one entity and soon to come under one fee structure.
“The loss of zero fees will see student enrolments plummet, it’ll cost our economy millions and it will end the supply of what’s been a reliable and skilled workforce for the region.
“And there’s evidence to support this with a recent Economic Impact Report, produced by BERL (Business and Economic Research Limited), showing the total spend of SIT and its students is around $157.1 million annually, while SIT’s Southland campuses having contributed $508.5 million in GDP to Southland’s economy in the past five years, along with 40 percent of students remaining here to work.
“Zero fees has given our city a point of difference, boosted the economy and provided much-needed training across nursing, hospitality and tourism, trades and business.
“It therefore makes no sense, at a time of severe Southland labour shortages, for the Government to undermine SIT – the one organisation which can train workers to fill these gaps.
“And, as we head into a possible recession, it’s also ludicrous to consider abandoning a scheme which so effectively contributes to local prosperity and regional economic growth.“If National is privileged to become the Government this year, we will get rid of Te Pukenga and insure zero fees could continue at SIT.”