The plight of university students renting privately also came to light at the panel discussion.

The plight of university students renting privately also came to light at the panel discussion.

University of the South Pacific Student Association President Lepani Naqarase says rental prices around the Laucala campus in Suva are pretty high, and the flats are usually rundown.

Naqarase says many students walk door to door in the greater Suva area, looking for affordable flats.

“Local students are finding it difficult to cope with rental payments because the standard of homes are not worth the value. A two-bedroom house can be shared between four to six students as desperate measures arise. The cost of living and rent is too much for students to handle while landlords are taking advantage of the situation.”

Naqarase adds that students who are on Toppers Scholarship or student loans spend most of their money on rent and barely have anything left for food and other costs.

The worst affected are students from poor family backgrounds.