Tue, 30 Aug 2011

Should the government hound people over student loans?

'Our student loans problem is increasingly getting out of control' - Martin Crump

Political panel on Don Brash, Kiwisaver, Student Loans and the Budget

The Government says that people who take out student loans need to be responsible for paying their debt back - but if they don't the Government will be going after them.

Debt for overseas based ex-students totals around $183m.

Is the Government right to try and get the money back? Or should we just leave the poor students alone?

7 opinions

Become a fan of RadioLIVE on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post your opinion

Name:

Email:

(Won't be published)

Opinion:

By cruizie

The government need to be more discerning about what courses are eligible for a student loan - we have far too many courses - far to many providers and we are almost at the point where we can get a loan to do a knitting course!!! I would dare to guess that a lot of the debt will be related to perpetual students studying something that has no relationship to their future career. Too easy to get - too easy to run away from. We borrow - we have to pay!

(1)

(0)

By Jim Bob

Yea jonny i wish it was free also but in the real world this country cant afford it anymore and so we have to pay our way...so why should i living in nz be hounded to pay back the loan and those that do a runner get off scott free?

(1)

(0)

By Ted

How much of the $183million is interest? Only students who leave NZ pay interest on their loans. So why do they leave? For their big OE, for higher paid jobs, or just for jobs? The govt. should start creating jobs instead of leaving it up to the private sector.

(1)

By Johnny Sauce Pants

What happened to the free education system NZ used to be so proud of?

Education should be provided free by the state for the benefit of everyone regardless of background and income.

(3)

(1)

By Jim Bob

They have taken out 183 million dollars out of our system and buggred of overseas...of course they should pay the loan back!
Im paying my loan back and they took on the responsability of the loan when they signed the contract!.

So the govt should chase these loans and pass on the admistrative costs involved in chasing the debt as well as a lesson to others that fleeing the country is not an option and that they must pay back what they loaned!.

(1)

(3)

By cruizie

Should the banks hound people that don't pay their mortgage?

(1)

(0)

By Jeffrey Huffadine

Should the government hound people over student loans?If overseas based ex-students are getting more money overseas by working and studying then when they return back to NZ they the students should pay back the loans that they were given and provided.Debt for overseas based ex-students totals around$183million.Afterall it is the governments right to try and get the money back otherwise the whole country will go broke.

(0)