The Job Ready Graduate fee structure sets a challenge for the new minister

In CMM this morning the learned Conor King explains the problem.

The Deans of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences lobby wants a change to the student fee structure as set by the previous government (CMM May 27). Understandably so – the generality of HASS students (plus law and business) are now hammered with HECS of $14 600 a year, more than  medicine and well over twice the cost of degrees the coalition approved of (think maths and nursing).

But any change will bring new problems. “I assume those arguing that the historians of the future cannot pay the top rate are not suggesting that the arts faculties lose revenue. They want a reduced charge to be offset by an increased funding rate. That is either a use of scarce funds to no other gain than a lower charge for some – or better, but harder, an increase in the lower rates JRG introduced at the other end of its spectrum,” Mr King suggests.