[Muanet] MUASA: Student debt skyrockets

[Dion Giles]

Anyone else got any news items worth passing on?   Helpful to include URLs 
where possible.

Dion Giles
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Student debt soars to $13 billion

The Advertiser, 20oct03

HECS debt in Australia is soaring towards $13 billion as record numbers of 
students die before they can repay the money owing on their studies.

"Doubtful debt" – the proportion unlikely ever to be recovered – has 
increased to more than $1.5 billion, mainly through Australians living 
overseas, people not earning enough money, unemployment and those 
undertaking further study.

Opposition education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin said yesterday HECS (Higher 
Education Contribution Scheme) fees had almost doubled since the mid-1990s 
and some students were graduating with debts as high as $50,000 that they 
would never be able to repay.

"Doubtful debt has increased by more than 200 per cent," she said.

Higher education sources have warned the crisis is set to deepen with 
course fee rises of up to 30 per cent.

Projections show more than a million students will owe $13 billion by 
2006-2007.

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,7607606%255E911,00.html