Greens promise universal payment for trainee teachers, nurses, vets and dentists
New Zealand's Green Party has proposed a universal payment for students in essential training programs like nursing and teaching to combat high dropout rates. The policy would be funded by a proposed wealth tax.
Why it matters
This proposal addresses the economic barriers to essential public service careers and highlights a key policy divide regarding wealth taxation in New Zealand.
The Green Party says it will give students a universal payment while they complete their training to be teachers, nurses, and other essential health and social support workers such as midwives, vets, and dentists.
Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said many nurse, teaching, social worker and midwife students' work placements were often up to 30 hours a week of unpaid work, which was leading to high dropout rates because those from lower-income backgrounds were unable to financially support themselves all the way through their studies.
She said the Greens' policy would prioritise sectors where unpaid placements were pushing students out.
"Our paid placements policy will make sure they can afford the essentials while training."
Any student being unable to complete their training was a shame to New Zealand, she said.
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