The East Antrim Assembly Member said: “£15,000 is not a particularly high salary in modern terms, and loan repayments coupled with other student debts can put a real strain on our graduates.
“Secondly, if young people want to get on the property ladder, the fact that such repayments have to be made on a relatively low salary can hamper their chances of buying a home. The property market in Northern Ireland presents our young people with enough problems as it is with them having to take into account student loan payments.
“Northern Ireland should be looking to Scotland’s example in relation to tuition fees. The Minister must examine the removal of tuition fees and the restructuring of student loans to ease the massive burden of debt placed on our graduates.
ENDS