Students who took out extra course-related costs to buy devices “felt ripped off” when it was later announced that they could those same devices for free.
On 15 April, the Government announced that students could take out an extra $1000 for course-related costs, bringing the total amount available to $2000. But on 2 May, they announced that students could get devices needed for online learning for free if they met certain criteria.
Information released to Critic under the Official Information Act shows that 43,484 tertiary students claimed some course-related costs between April 15 and May 2 (i.e. before they knew that they could get funded devices for study). Out of those students submitting a claim during the period in between the government announcements, 34,647 students had taken out the maximum of $2000 by May 2.
One student, Tilly, said they bought a laptop “pretty much as soon as” they could get the money in their account. They said it was “unreal” how much it helped. Another student, Andy, spent just under $500 on a tablet, which “instantly made studying from home easier”.
But their gratitude soured when, only two weeks later, the Government made another announcement. This time, they announced that students who needed digital devices to study would be able to apply to get them for free.
The students Critic spoke to who bought digital devices before the second Government announcement felt “ripped off”. Andy said that “it’s evident that the support we have from the Government is insufficient if tens of thousands of students immediately jumped on the prospect of more money.” When asked for comment, one student referred to the situation as “a bit shit”.