University students have raised concerns over controversial federal budget cuts to funding and the raising of student fees for courses.
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The proposed changes include a 7.5 per cent increase in fees, reducing the HECS loan repayment threshold to an annual salary of $42,000, and applying an “efficiency dividend” to universities.
Bega-based Western Sydney University primary teaching student Marcus Mundy feels the changes will negatively impact students entering the workforce.
“This is deeply stressful for me, because as soon as I get a permanent job I will have the stress of trying to raise a family, having to teach and program for my students,” the father of three said.
“It will impact people who are passionate and want to be out there working, and it will have a major impact on not only myself but everyone around me.”
Nineteen-year-old Swinburne University sociology student Riley Willcox said the changes will make university less accessible for underprivileged residents.
“Governance that disadvantages lower socioeconomic groups such as the increase of university fees is an example of corporations recognising that true self-governance would mean that people defend the conditions for life on earth, and they would subsequently lose their power,” the former Bega High student said.
“The inaccessibility of university education actively undermines the conditions for democracy, granting power instead to transnational corporations.”
Last year the government dropped its plan for fee deregulation, and universities predicted further changes.
“In the longer term it might be expected that a greater portion [of] course fees will be borne by students via HECS loans rather than direct subsidies to institutions,” a University of Wollongong spokesperson said.
“The University of Wollongong welcomes the government’s decision to remain open to a range of options for university fee deregulation, and will continue to work constructively with the rest of the sector and the government of the day to determine the best long-term solution for funding Australia’s higher education sector.”