MEDIA RELEASE University students to feel the MYEFO pinch
15 December 2015 – The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is disappointed to see that the 2015 – 16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) forecasts more cuts to the Department of Education and Training budget which target university students.
The MYEFO shows a $10M cut to the Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships Program over 3 years and a $20.8M cut to the Higher Education Participation Program (HEPP) over two years from 2016 -17 increased from an original $5M cut in the May 2015 budget.
‘While large amounts of money are being put back in to fund Innovation, Research and Development critical higher education support programs are being cut’ said Harry Rolf, National President.
Higher Education Participation Program funding helps universities undertake programs to improve access for people from low SES backgrounds, students with disabilities, ATSI students, and other disadvantaged backgrounds.
‘This kind of support is essential, these students have the odds stacked against them. The programs help students from disadvantaged backgrounds succeed at university when they may otherwise have not. This cut is just another blow to students with a high barriers to entry’.
Recently Student Start-up Scholarships have been cut in favour of income contingent loans. A decision that will leave university students who need financial support for text books and other materials up to $2,050 more in debt per year.
‘These cuts do not speak to an agenda where the best and brightest are able to participate in higher education, they raise the barriers to entry and heap financial burden on those people who can least afford it. When students and young people have been identified as playing a key role in Australia’s Innovation Future, the Government needs to be investing more in access and opportunities not less’ Concluded Harry Rolf.
ENDS
Harry Rolf | National President | president@capa.edu.au
Peter Derbyshire | Media Officer | media@capa.edu.au
