There’s concerns the Government's plan to switch the first year of free tertiary study to the final year won't hit the mark.

The Tertiary Education Commission has told a select committee this week that there's no discernible evidence the first-year policy changed numbers of low decile school students attending university.

Tertiary Education Union National Secretary Sandra Grey says once students get past the first year, they usually stay until the end.

So, she told Mike Hosking, it doesn't make a lot of sense to make the final year free.

Grey says students need support when they're trying to transition either off the benefit and unemployment into study, or when they're going from school into study.

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There’s concerns the Government's plan to switch the first year of free tertiary study to the final year won't hit the mark. 
The Tertiary Education Commission has told a select committee this week that there's no discernible evidence the first-year policy changed numbers of low decile school students attending university. 
Tertiary Education Union National Secretary Sandra Grey says once students get past the first year, they usually stay until the end. 
So, she told Mike Hosking, it doesn't make a lot of sense to make the final year free. 
Grey says students need support when they're trying to transition either off the benefit and unemployment into study, or when they're going from school into study. 
LISTEN ABOVE

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.

A fresh and intelligent start to your day - catch the very latest international and domestic news developments, sport, entertainment and business on Early Edition with Ryan Bridge, on Newstalk ZB.