中国助学贷款制度:演变、成效及问题

Student Loan Scheme in China:Does it Work?

我国的助学贷款制度在2000年正式全面实施。助学贷款是高校资助制度中的最重要组成部分,也是解决贫困大学生问题的最主要手段。本文尝试从社会政策的角度,首先分析助学贷款在学生资助体系中的地位,然后通过回顾助学贷款制度的演变和改进过程来分析其成效及存在问题,尤其通过剖析其机制设计的种种利弊,提出一些改革建议。从社会政策的角度看助学贷款的机制设计,公平性是最值得关心的问题。机制设计上的公平性在这里包含了几个层面:首先,对应贷对象的认定是否公平,是否出现不该拿贷款的学生拿了贷款,而该拿贷款的学生却拿不到贷款的情况;其次,还款机制对贫困生是否公平,还贷额占他们收入的比例有多高,是否给他们的生活造成过重负担;最后,整个机制的设计对大学入学机会的公平性是否有负面影响。

A government subsidized student loan scheme was formally introduced in China in 2000.This student loan scheme is a key component of China’s student support system.It is also regarded as the most important method in tackling student poverty among Chinese colleges.This paper analyzes how important the student loan scheme is when compared with other methods in the student support system,then reviews the development of the scheme,assesses its implementation and identifies its improvements and limitations.The design of the student loan scheme’s mechanism is a particular concern of this research.The pros and cons of it have been critically examined.A series of policy implications for future reform on the mechanism is also be provided.From a social policy perspective,the central equity concern of a student loan scheme should be on the design of its mechanism.There are three aspects of this equity concern.Firstly,whether eligible students are targeted and non-eligible ones are excluded.Secondly,what percentage does annual repayment account for in borrower’s annual income,and would that create an excessive burden to borrowers.Thirdly,whether the mechanism deters access to higher education.