Western Sydney University says more needs to be done to tackle the high cost of degrees. Reducing student debt and changes to when graduates start repaying their loans are significant steps to help tackle cost-of-living pressures but unfinished business remains on the initial high cost of degrees.
Responding to the Federal Government’s planned changes to the minimum payment threshold under the Higher Education Loan Program and plans to reduce student debt by 20 per cent, Vice-Chancellor George Williams said WSU would supports more action to deal with the overall cost of degrees.
“These are extremely welcome steps, but we urge the Federal Government to go further to fix our broken higher education system,’’ he said.
“We continue to call for immediate action to deal with the root of the debt spiral problem.
“Reducing student debt and other changes to the Higher Education Loan Program will significantly ease financial pressure on our students, not only helping them and their families but also benefitting our Western Sydney community, which is at the epicentre of the cost-of-living crisis.
“But the system for setting student fees in the first place is broken and deeply unfair. These changes do nothing for new university students facing inflated fees,’’ Prof Williams said.
“To ensure the doors to opportunity are open for all students and the nation tackles intergenerational inequality, we continue to call for a common-sense and fair approach to the initial cost of university degrees.
“The fact that a three-year arts degree now costs $50,000 is actively discouraging some students from considering or staying at university. Arts degrees are an entry point to university for Indigenous, low SES, and first-in-family students along with many women.
“We need action on all fronts: student loan repayments and the overall cost of degrees.”
