OPPOSITION MP Rinesh Sharma says students under the Tertiary Education Loan Scheme (TELS) are struggling with rising costs despite a recent increase in allowances.
Speaking during the Budget debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Sharma said students had raised their concerns that the $100 per semester increase — from $1500 to $1600 — is inadequate.
“Concerns were also raised about the high cost of living and the difficulties non-merit students were facing, especially those that were working part-time,” he said.
“A comparison between merit-based and non-merit-based scholarship recipients shows that merit students received $800 annual increase ($400 per semester), while non-merit students only received $200 annual increase ($100 per semester).
“A student under the Hardship Assistance scheme receives only $1000 per semester, with no increase despite other schemes’ adjustments.
“This scheme’s stagnant support is inadequate to meet rising costs and financial needs.
“Allowance is not enough, some of my friends are surviving on Weet-Bix and milk.”
Mr Sharma criticised the Coalition Government for boasting about the TELS debt write-off while ignoring deeper systemic issues.
“Debt is paid off but students are in a bond. But if a student takes out a loan to get an education, that’s a good thing, it becomes the responsibility of the student to pay it off.
“Being responsible is also a good value to instil in our youths, but the loan payoff scheme needs to be flexible and address current challenges faced by our youths.”
