Uni Students To Down Tools

Illawarra Mercury

Thursday April 10, 2003

By MEGAN LEVY

UNIVERSITY of Wollongong students are expected to join students across the nation today to rally against the Federal Government's higher education blueprint.

The National Union of Students has organised a National Day of Action to condemn the Government's draft, under which the number of full-fee-paying university students could double and performance-based research funding be introduced for universities.

NUS president Daniel Kyriacou said the University of Wollongong would be hit hard by the proposed funding revamp, which is still before the Government's expenditure review committee.

He said 366 fully funded postgraduate places at the university had been cut since 1997 under the Howard Government, and the new proposal would worsen the situation.

The Government's $1.5 billion proposal includes higher student fees, loans closer to market rates and a refusal to fund students who fail to complete their degrees on time.

Mr Kyriacou said the university would be pressured to narrow its postgraduate and research courses.

A University of Wollongong spokesman confirmed the drop in the number of postgraduate course work places, but said students had generally transferred to the Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme. PELS is an interest-free loan, and repayments are made through the tax system when income reaches a minimum threshold.

The rally will be held on the University of Wollongong Duckpond Lawn at noon today.

© 2003 Illawarra Mercury

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