La Trobe University students fear the federal government’s push to deregulate fees will price poorer students out of tertiary education.
Last week, Education Minister Christopher Pyne said he wasn’t willing to compromise on allowing universities to set course fees, which he describes as core to the government’s proposed changes to higher education.
La Trobe Student Union’s education vice- president Betty Belay, 20, said students often approached her with their concerns about the affordability of higher education.
“There have just been so many people so worried,” she said.
“They’re scared and feel helpless. We deserve a say in what happens, but the federal government obviously thinks otherwise.”
The international relations student said that like many students, she wants to continue her education purely for the love of learning, “but I’m worried I won’t be able to study because of the financial burden”.
Archaeology student Georgia Elliott-Vautin, 21, said she fears for her nine-year-old sister and anyone younger than herself who won’t be able to afford the loan.
“Universities aren’t meant to be competitive, they’re meant to be accessible and they’re cutting off a whole portion of society, mostly students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, by deregulating fees.”
Ms Elliott-Vautin estimates her HECS debt will reach about $100,000 after post-graduate study. “It terrifies me,” she said.
Labor Scullin MP Andrew Giles visited the Bundoora university in November to listen to students’ concerns. He said he was struck by their overriding concern for their younger brothers, sisters and future students.
“The real concern they had about the proposed changes to higher education was the uncertainty for other people, for prospective students,” Mr Giles said.
“Would their siblings be put off by higher debt? People were reflecting on what this means,” he said.
Parliament resumes next week and debate will begin again in the House of Representatives. If Labor and the Greens remain opposed, Mr Pyne will need the vote of six crossbench senators to pass the bill.
