24.06.20
The ASA has written to the Minister for Education Dan Tehan, calling for an abandonment of the proposed fee increases to higher education humanities and arts courses outlined in the Job-Ready Graduates Package.
On June 19, the Minister announced the government’s proposal to redesign the Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding in order to ‘deliver more Job-ready graduates in the disciplines and regions where they are needed most’. The package included a reduction of the government contribution for some university courses (arts, society and culture, law, economics, creative arts and communications) and an increase in the government contribution for others (including science, engineering, health, agriculture, education and nursing).
This would mean the contribution payable by students in some arts degrees would increase by 113% - in some cases matching the contributions required by students of medicine, for example.
This proposal not only demonstrates a narrow-minded and highly vocational view of higher education, but also devalues the study of the arts and humanities. It ignores the critical thinking, creativity, incisiveness, problem solving, research and communication skills gained from this area of study. We are concerned the proposal would subject students of the arts to sizeable debts that may take them decades to pay back. What’s more, raising fees risks locking out the most marginalised and disadvantaged communities from the arts altogether, at a time where greater diversity and plurality of voices is needed.
You can read our full letter to the Minister here. We have also shared our concerns about this proposal with several cross-benchers and opposition members including Shadow Minister for Education Tanya Plibersek, and Shadow Minister for the Arts Tony Burke.
We encourage our members who have concerns about the proposed changes to contact their MPs to call for the abandonment of the Job-Ready Graduates Package.
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