Students protest fee hikes

Students across the country will protest against the Federal government's user- pays higher education regime today, in a National Day of Action. Recent deregulation of the HECS scheme has led to protest at many campuses, as universities take up the opportunity to raise their HECS fees up to 25% above current levels.

"Most postgraduate coursework degrees were deregulated in the '90's, leading to a grab for cash by universities, introducing hundreds of new courses, some of very poor quality and in some instances costing tens of thousands of dollars," said CAPA President Stephen Horton today.

"While HECS fees can now potentially increase by up to 25%, there is no limit on how much postgraduate coursework fees can increase. Postgraduate coursework is so unregulated that in some instances fee increases have been imposed on students mid-way through a course," Mr Horton continued.

"The postgraduate coursework experience is a grim picture of the future for undergraduate degree cost and quality under this government's regressive user- pays philosophy," said Mr Horton.

"Students, their families, and the community need to stand together and tell the government that enough is enough. Our universities must turn back from their rush towards expensive mediocrity."

"Australia's higher education fees make it one of the most expensive countries in which to study in the world. One recent report placed Australia behind only Hong Kong and Korea in cost of studying," said Mr Horton. "Australia invests less in its universities than most other OECD countries--I don't think most Australians really understand how badly Australia's higher education system fares in comparison to other developed nation," concluded Mr Horton.