General News
17 January, 2025
Majority of students say scholarships would push them to study harder
Scholarships relieve financial stress and motivate students.
Ninety-six per cent of students say scholarships are likely to make them study harder to achieve good results at school.
That's according to the Public Education Foundation (PEF), which has surveyed its scholarship recipients since 2017.
Scholarships can have other clear benefits.
The most obvious positive outcome for a scholarship recipient is partially addressing wealth inequality and even further encouraging their achievement trajectory despite significant challenges.
"90 per cent of our students agreed that their scholarship relieved financial stress that their family was experiencing," PEF's chief operating officer, Paul Somers said.
"94 per cent of our students agreed that their scholarship gave them an increased sense of confidence and pride in their academic potential.
"88 per cent of our students believe that their scholarship helped them achieve better academic results."
PEF has several different scholarships to help students with the costs of education-related items.
Funds for students might be spent on uniforms and shoes, a suitable laptop or tablet device plus internet access, tutoring, excursions, and a number of other course-specific needs.
PEF is a national not-for-profit organisation. Its scholarships focus on students from low socioeconomic, Indigenous, or refugee backgrounds, students in rural and remote areas, and students living with disabilities.
"The Public Education Foundation's scholarships create transformative opportunities for public school students, their families, and the broader public education system," Paul said.
94 per cent of our students agreed that their scholarship gave them an increased sense of confidence.PEF COO Paul Somers
"Ensuring every child has access to a high-quality public school is critical, not just for their future but for the prosperity and cohesion of our society, which we must work hard to sustain."
Between 2009 to 2024 PEF delivered 3613 scholarships, with 3452 for students and 161 for educators. This amounted to $10,301,828 in value, and around 70 per cent of recipients were female.
Paul said the United Nations has 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the fourth being to ensure inclusive and equitable education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
"It's a goal that requires considerable attention in Australia and elsewhere," Paul said.
"Socioeconomic disparities continue to be prevalent in education, based on factors such as gender, location and household wealth, with rural and less affluent families facing the greatest challenges," he said.
To donate or apply visit publiceducationfoundation.org.au.