FREEZING OF UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNICS FEES

Mr Loh Meng See asked the Minister for Education, in the light of the current adverse economic conditions, (a) whether his Ministry will freeze the University and Polytechnics fees in the new term; and (b) for students who face financial difficulties, whether there are special assistance schemes available to help them.

The Minister for Education (RAdm Teo Chee Hean): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Education, in consultation with the universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), conducts regular reviews of tuition fees to ensure that they are set at appropriate levels. The review of tuition fees for the academic year 1999 and academic year 2000 has just been completed. The tuition fees for undergraduate, polytechnic and ITE courses for the academic years 1999 and 2000 will remain at their current level. So there will be no change in the fees for 1999 and the year 2000.

However, the fees for postgraduate programmes which are as low as only 40% of undergraduate fees will be increased moderately in academic year 1999 and academic year 2000. The increase will amount to an additional $300 in fees each year for laboratory-based and non-laboratory based postgraduate courses, and $450 for medical and dental postgraduate courses.

Sir, no deserving student will be denied the opportunity of tertiary education because of inability to afford tuition fees. A wide range of financial assistance schemes in the form of scholarships, bursaries and loans are currently available to undergraduates and polytechnic students. Together, they can cover up to 100% of the tuition fees and provide living allowances for needy students. There are no quotas for the Study Loan, Tuition Fee Loan Scheme and the CCC bursary. Indeed, more students have applied for such financial assistance and have received it this academic year. For example, the Tuition Fee Loan Scheme in academic year 1998: 7,017 students have applied and all have received assistance under this Loan Scheme compared to 6,066 last year.

More than two-thirds of postgraduate research students are receiving Research Scholarships or Studentships. Other full-time postgraduate students not on the research scholarships and studentships are eligible to borrow up to 80% of their tuition fees through the Tuition Fee Loan scheme. These schemes will continue.

In addition to the Government-funded scholarships, bursaries and loan schemes administered by the institutions of higher learning, other forms of financial assistance are also offered by foundations, community groups, self-help groups, and private and professional organisations.

I am also pleased to note that the student unions in the universities have sustained their self-help initiatives for needy students through the Students' Funds. The Government matches dollar for dollar the student unions' efforts to raise funds for these students. In April 1998, the Government matching grant limit for the NTU Students' Union Fund was raised to $0.75 million. Government will be prepared to consider increasing this grant limit should there be a need to do so.