Uni Fee Rises Hurt Women

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday March 9, 2004

By COURTNEY TRENWITH

UNIVERSITY of Wollongong students fear Federal Government plans to allow universities to charge higher fees for popular courses will make it harder for women to go to university.

Members of the UOW Student Representative Council (SRC) took advantage of International Women's Day yesterday to criticise Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson's education reforms.

They include permitting universities to charge up to 25 per cent more for popular courses and increasing the number of full-fee paying places.

Women's officer Amy Parish said single women, especially those with children, would find it difficult to pay off their Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) debt, which allows students to postpone paying their interest-free loan until they earn $35,000.

She said women were less able to repay their student debt because they only earned 66 per cent of the average male wage.

``Single women with children will find it extremely hard to pay off their HECS debt because they are concentrated into lower paid and casual work," Ms Parish said.

``On average 77 per cent of women pay off their HECS compared to 93 per cent of men. We're concerned (the Nelson legislation) will discourage women from studying, particularly traditionally male dominated degrees (such as) engineering and IT, which have 88 per cent male enrolment, or it will disadvantage women from studying altogether."

Education officer Cassie Harris said it would be particularly unfair to women if UOW allowed full-fee paying students to fill the Government's increased maximum to 35 per cent of student places.

``We want to repeal the Nelson legislation. Ideally there should be free education for all students," Ms Harris said.

Ms Parish said more funding for university child-care centres would also make attending university easier for single mothers.

``The child-care centre on campus is massively underfunded, it's expensive and most women can't afford it," she said.

Yesterday's celebrations also included folk singer Penelope Swales, local artists and an anti-diet free lunch, designed to encourage women to challenge stereotypes and the media portrayal of women's body shapes.

The women will march through Wollongong on March 13 to demand more funding for education as well as health and child care.

What do you think of Brendan Nelson's plan to increase the number of full-fee paying places in universities and allow universities the option to increase HECS by 25%?

Tamille Sweeting, North Wollongong: ``If that had come in before I applied for uni, it would have affected my decision (to nominate to pay HECS)."

Mark Lettfuss, Coledale: ``I don't believe in education for money so I don't think it's that accessible to people at the moment, especially if they are not entitled to Austudy."

Yeong Sassall, Cordeaux Heights: ``I already think there are not enough positions and the UAIs are getting ridiculously high."

Corrie Paoloni, Mt Ousley: ``The rich are going to be more educated and the poor will stay less educated."

David Gablonski, Nowra: ``I know people who come to uni because they don't know what to do and just cruise along. It will cut that down."

Rhys Hargreaves, Culburra: ``It's yet another example of students being given the boot by a Government that never had to pay for their education."

© 2004 Illawarra Mercury

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