Government weakens oversight for free tertiary education

The Government is reducing the penalty for students who try to rort the no-fees tertiary study scheme. It had intended that people who wrongly claim the free year of education would be liable to three years in prison. But the Education Minister, Chris Hipkins, has admitted in a Cabinet paper such a regime would be costly and complex, and instead a simpler scheme allowing for a fine of up to five thousand dollars will be put in place.