They used to be called HECS, but under a variety of names the Commonwealth has deferred payment schemes to help the disadvantaged get a college education . A degree is a great help in finding a well paid job and the student is committed to paying back those education fees in installments when their salary reaches a certain level.
To meet demand, a number of private colleges appeared on the Australian education landscape and now there is disquiet at the standards that prevail. These colleges are "for profit " and they have an incentive to get the numbers enrolled. It seems that " freebies " are being deployed to get prospective students to sign on the dotted line - and that is completely against the rules that apply.
It has become apparent that some colleges are enticing students with an offer of a free laptop computer or a tablet when they agree to undertake a course - which is a $25,000 bill charged to the Federal government. The student is not required to start repaying this education fee until their earnings reach a level of $54,126, and now it has been discovered that only 2.4% of these students actually complete their course.
In one instance, the person signed up for this higher level of education was a nineteen year old disabled man with learning difficulties. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ( ACCC ) is conducting an investigation of that college and it may be required to repay the Commonwealth $ 57 million for course discrepancies.
Unfortunately, the very concept of what is really a time payment scheme for higher education is open to abuse. In broad theory, the public thinks it helps young men and women from less privileged households get their foot on the employment ladder by gaining the qualifications that are now necessary to enter an ever increasing range of professions - and that includes nursing and teaching.
Today - in our multicultural society - it is not uncommon for the retired to decide to undertake this sort of study, and hence there is absolutely no prospect of them ever reentering the work-force or attaining the salary level at which repayments become automatic. It is also suspected that new citizens with a sketchy command of the English language are being coerced to signup for courses which are way above their comprehension level. Unethical colleges are only interested in gaining the numbers and billing the Commonwealth to make their institutions profitable.
The lure of a free laptop or tablet is a huge incentive for those for which either is out of financial reach, and yet refurbished laptops are on offer for a very few dollars and the price of tablets has dropped alarmingly as Chinese manufacturers fight for market share. The cost is minuscule in relation to the return from selling a higher education course.
It would be unpopular - but probably very necessary - to invoke some sort of scrutineer between the application and acceptance for deferred payment education. Resources are finite and when the Commonwealth provides what is essentially a loan, there should be at least a reasonable prospect that it will eventually be repaid.
When the ratio of those completing these very expensive courses is a lowly 2.4% it is evident that the present system is in urgent need of review !
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