The Labour Government promised one-year free tertiary education starting next year, and would increase it to three years by 2024.
One young solo mother studying her post-graduate at the University of Canterbury said free tertiary would have worked wonders for her.
She expected the Labour Government would be more focused on helping solo parents get an education than National was.
She said MSD stuff judged her when she chose to do post-graduate study after having a child, and did not think the MSD focused on better outcomes for her or her child.
"National just said get off this benefit and work fulltime. When would I see my child?"
The ministry loaned up to $500 a week for solo parents who studied below a post-graduate level.
MSD has been approached for further comment.
Kimihia Parents’ College is a Christchurch college for 14 to 19-year-old women who fall pregnant and become parents through high school.
Head Teacher Diane Atkins said eight out of ten leaving students were going on to at least one year of tertiary study.
Atkins said student loans for student parents was a huge barrier, and pursuing longer degrees was not seen as an option.
"They just see it as another debt, [and] they haven’t got much money to start with."
Atkins said many student parents did not realise what they were capable of, and free tertiary would be "wonderful" for increasing their confidence and employability.
"It would allow them to reach any goal they want for themselves."
However, Atkins said for some student parents the income lost while studying would still not make it worthwhile.
She said there will always be parents that have to work straight away in order to put food on the table.
Watch or read more from Diane Atkins here: