The Government's given Labour's free education package the thumbs down.

Leader Andrew Little announced the party’s “Working Futures” policy yesterday during his state of the nation speech.

LISTEN ABOVE: Chris Whelan, Chief Executive at Universities New Zealand joins Andrew Dickens to discuss Labour's policy

It offers three years of free education to a person, provided they don’t already have a degree or qualification.

Mr Little said the policy is “a deliberate choice to make an investment in our people”.

However, National’s called the policy unfair with Teritary Education Minister Stephen Joyce saying it’s good students currently make a “contribution” to their studies.

He said the effect of Labour’s policy would be those who don’t go to university would end up paying more for those who did.
ACT leader David Seymour’s concerned the policy won’t increase the quality of learning.

Mr Seymour said it’s “classic labour playbook” because they’re trying to “buy votes with education bribes”.

“What gets lost is the quality of education that people receive. What you end up with is certificates for everyone, but not necessarily very good ones.”

But the Tertiary Education Union is backing the education promise.

It said it helps to recognize the importance of investing in the future of New Zealand.

TEU National president Sandra Grey said the policy opens up opportunities for Kiwis to fulfill their dreams, and that has to be celebrated.

Little admits big policy 

Andrew Little admits it’s a “big” policy.

“It’s long term and it’s an investment in our future – it’s the direct opposite of just about everything the present government is doing.” 

He said it takes into account the changing job market where technology is changing faster than ever and that’ll have huge implications for our working lives.   

 “It’s going to mean a sense of huge insecurity for some about their job as new machines make some jobs obsolete.” 

Mr Little thinks the policy will “remake our education system and transform the economy”.