No free rides to learning

There is no such thing as a free lunch and if announcements made yesterday are a guide, as far as tertiary education is concerned, there is no way the Government is going to countenance the thought of anyone getting a free ride.

That is one conclusion to take from yesterday's confirmation that the rules around student loans and allowances are to be tightened. Another is to say the Government has acted appropriately to rein in a problem that is costing taxpayers ever-increasing amounts and burdening people with debt they can barely justify, let alone afford.

We are told education is the pathway to success and yet costs can prohibit some from attaining the level of learning they desire.

Tertiary education used to be something only the rich might contemplate. It was the domain of the elite. Those of sufficient means could enjoy the privilege of knowledge but the rest had to accept their lot, apart from a small number who might earn scholarships or grants.

Many will argue yesterday's announcement is a step back to those days. The reality is tertiary education is quite accessible in this country, although critics will argue that will change under what has been proposed.

As someone who has had and paid off a student loan, I know the system can work, and make things attainable that otherwise wouldn't be. I also know some people try to use the system to their advantage and not for what it was intended.

With economic conditions demanding fiscal prudency and burgeoning student debt, it is understandable the Government would want to limit the amount lent and also recoup loans as quickly as possible.

But further disadvantaging those who are already battling hardly seems a good solution. It will be interesting to see, when the changes are fully explained on May 24, how the Government intends to mitigate any deterrent effect they may have.

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