Students Starving To Study

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday March 10, 2007

By VERONICA APAP

CASH-STRAPPED university students are being forced to choose between food and an education.

The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee Student Finances Survey released on Thursday revealed 13 per cent of the 19,000 students surveyed regularly went without food because they could not afford meals on top of study costs.

That figure was even higher for indigenous students, with 25 per cent reporting they skipped meals and sacrificed other necessities. The report said undergraduate students, particularly females, were in the most difficult financial position.

"For large numbers of students, their financial circumstances had directly affected their choice of mode of study, choice of university or choice of course," the report said.

"Overall close to 10 per cent of students ... had deferred at some stage in the past because they could not afford to continue studying at the time."

Wollongong Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) president Lis Larbalestier said the association could only offer struggling students an interest-free, $25 emergency loan.

"Students can come in and get a number of loans over the year," she said.

"It's the only service of that type offered on campus. There is no other place for them to turn."

WUSA in turn has less money for those student loans, Ms Larbalestier said, as Voluntary Student Unionism had hurt the association's funding base.

Ms Larbalestier said while some students were forced to skip meals, there were also students living in hidden poverty.

"Students who are increasing their work hours and skipping lectures and classes (to meet work obligations)," she said.

The number of students forced to take out a loan to continue studying has more than doubled since 2000.

"Student debt is going to hit $13 billion," she said.

"The new generation of debt that we're going to experience... will have an impact on building our own capital assets and, in our 30s, (buying) a home."

WHAT THE REPORT FOUND

? 54 per cent of students turned to their parents to provide meals and accommodation.

? 25 per cent asked their parents to help pay for textbooks.

? In 2006, 35 per cent of full-time undergraduates received either Youth Allowance or Austudy, which was down from 42 per cent in 2000.

? 13 per cent of student applications for income support from the Federal Government were rejected in 2006, up from 9 per cent in 2000.

? Nearly 40 per cent of full-time students said their paid work had an adverse effect on their studies.

? 22 per cent regularly missed classes to attend work.

? 24 per cent of students obtained a loan to continue studying in 2006, compared to 11 per cent in 2000.

? The average amount borrowed by university students was $4720.

WHAT THE STUDENTS ARE SAYING

'I found it very difficult to find money for food and clothes. All of my Youth Allowance went on bills and I had to ask people for food or if they could give me some money for food - it was a really humiliating situation. - (Female, part-time postgraduate)

I struggle every week with my finances. I get paid the bare minimum wage and I can only work once a week due to my timetable. I am constantly worrying about the huge debt I am getting into: how am I going to be able to pay this money back? - (Female, full-time, undergraduate)

I feel bad for my mum who supports me when she is struggling to meet living costs as well. I often go without adequate food in order to buy expensive textbooks." (Female, full-time undergraduate)'

EDITORIAL Uni plight shameful: Page 31

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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