Higher Ed package slams the door on poor and disadvantaged
May 20 2003
The Australian Council of Social Service today met with key disability, student and academic groups to discuss concerns that the Government's higher education reforms will further prevent low income and rural Australians as well as people with disabilities from going to university.
Andrew McCallum, ACOSS President said: "The Government's proposal to increase university fees by up to 30% will add to existing barriers and slam the door on students from poor and disadvantaged backgrounds who could be going to university. The participation of students from low income families is already 50% below that of medium to high income families — rural and isolated students are 40% below. The disadvantaged student scholarships in the Government's package offers too little too late. Recent studies show more help is needed during secondary school years to make student equity programs work and to prevent the further social polarisation of universities."
Maryanne Diamond, Blind Citizens Australia Executive Officer said: "The proposal to limit access to a HECS funded place to five years means there is no flexibility if people's circumstances change, for example, they acquire a disability such as blindness. The proposal to cut access to the Pensioner Education Supplement ($31 a week) during summer break times will also place students who are blind or vision impaired under immense financial stress and may cause them to drop-out of their studies."
Daniel Kyriacou, National Union of Students (NUS) President said: "Proposals to expand the number of places for students who are able to jump the queue by paying full-fees of up to $90,000 sends the message that money is more important in accessing higher education than academic ability. Even the Government's proposed new HECS fees of up to $40,000 for some degrees will put a university education further out of reach for potential students from low and middle income Australian families."
Benjamin McKay, Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) said: "The Government's proposals will have a devastating effect on the ability of people already in the workforce and mature age students who want to upgrade their qualifications or engage in lifelong learning. The proposals as they stand will also reduce options for postgraduate students by forcing smaller and regional universities to specialise and narrow their course offerings."
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU National President said: "Students already pay on average 40% of the cost of their education and owe $9 billion in HECS loans to the Government. If universities are allowed to increase their HECS fees by up to 30% many students from disadvantaged backgrounds and their families could do the maths and decide a university education is simply not worth the cost. Academics know that reduced access for disadvantaged students is not in the interests of their own institution or in the economic or social interest of Australia."
Media Contacts:
Andrew McCallum — ACOSS President ph 0408 529 081 c/- — Ian Wilson ph 0419 626 155
Maryanne Diamond — Blind Citizens Australia ph 0419 312 129
Daniel Kyriacou — NUS President ph 0411 606 808
Benjamin McKay — CAPA President ph 0425 823 144
Dr Carolyn Allport — NTEU National President ph 0419 349 064 & Andrew Nette ph 0438 026 277