自明年起，本港資助大學將連續三年上調學費，年均增幅達5.5%。教育界立法會議員朱國強透露，政府在諮詢過程中，曾提出平均增幅7%的初步方案，但在綜合各方意見後調整至5.5%，相較於先前的建議，增幅相對溫和。他指出，在財政困難及學費已20多年未調整的背景下，此次調整幅度合理，並呼籲大學定期檢討學費結構。
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朱國強於今日（21日）在電台節目中表示，部分未獲學生資助處支援的學生將受到學費上調的最直接影響。鑑於當前經濟環境欠佳，他建議將學生貸款的還款期限延長至20年，並將利率設置在1%以下，以減輕學生的還款壓力。他還建議政府重新考慮現行18%的成本回收目標，認為相關方案可再討論。
在同一節目中，學友社學生輔導顧問吳寶城表示，政府加學費有其必要性，增幅亦符合預期，並且分三年逐步調升的安排較為平緩，能夠顧及學生的感受。他建議，在經濟不景氣的當下，大學應提供更多助學金，以幫助學生參與海外交流或購買學習設備。
吳寶城預測，學費調升後，借用免入息審查貸款的學生將面臨更大壓力。由於該貸款計劃的利率隨市場變動，目前處於高息環境，部分學生在低息時期的學生貸款，但隨後利率上升，還款金額顯著增加。他建議調低免入息審查貸款的利率或設立固定利率。此外，他認為目前15年的還款期限已較長，再延長未必合理。
吳寶城續稱，政府現已將成本回收率下調至13.4%，但若要達到原本的18%目標，學費每年可能增加超過一至兩萬元。他強調，高等教育是對社會的投資，不應因硬性指標及成本考量而削減資源。
University Tuition Increase Spurs Debate; Citizens Suggest Extending Loan Repayment Period
Starting next year, government-funded universities in Hong Kong will increase tuition fees for three consecutive years, with an average annual increase of 5.5%. Legislator for the education sector, Chu Kwok-keung, revealed that during the consultation process, the government initially proposed an average increase of 7%. However, after gathering feedback, this was adjusted down to 5.5%, making the increase relatively moderate compared to the initial suggestion. He pointed out that given the financial deficit and the fact that tuition fees have not been adjusted for over 20 years, the current increase is reasonable. Chu also called for regular reviews of university tuition fees.
Today (21st), Chu Kwok-keung mentioned on a radio program that students who are not receiving assistance from the Student Finance Office will be most affected by the tuition hike. Considering the current poor economic environment, he suggested extending the student loan repayment period to 20 years with interest rates below 1% to ease the repayment burden on students. He also recommended that the government reconsider the current cost recovery target of 18%, suggesting that this issue could be further discussed.
In the same program, Wong Po-shing, a student counseling advisor from Hok Yau Club, agreed on the necessity of the tuition increase by the government, stating that the increase aligns with expectations. The gradual adjustment over three years is seen as considerate of student sentiments. He suggested that given the current economic downturn, universities should provide various scholarships to assist students with overseas exchanges or purchasing learning equipment.
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Wong predicted that the tuition adjustment would place more pressure on students who have taken out non-means-tested loans. Since the interest rates of these loans adjust with the external market and are currently high, some students who borrowed under low-interest conditions are now facing significantly higher repayment amounts due to rising rates. He suggested reducing the interest rates on non-means-tested loans or establishing a fixed interest rate. Regarding the repayment period, Wong believes that the current 15-year term is already quite long and further extension may not be reasonable.
He continued by saying that the government has lowered the cost recovery rate to 13.4%. However, to achieve the original target of 18%, tuition fees might need to increase by over HKD 10,000 to 20,000 per year. Wong emphasized that higher education is an investment in society and should not be deprived of resources due to rigid benchmarks and cost considerations.
