Minister's Comments on Fees Raise Doubts About Integrity of Education Review
The National Tertiary Education Union believes statements by the Education Minister Brendan Nelson that he will seriously consider a proposal to allow universities to set their own fees raise doubts about the integrity and independence of the Government’s current review into Higher Education.“The current review process was established in order to facilitate an informed, wide ranging and inclusive debate about the future of Australia’s Higher Education system,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“The deadline for response to the initial Ministerial discussion paper has not even passed yet and already the Education Minister appears to be highlighting or giving preference to certain policy options as opposed to others.
“To do so at such an early stage in the review process is not helpful to fostering a broad debate about options facing higher education in Australia.
Dr Allport raised these concerns in reference to comments by the Education Minister in an interview with the ABC this morning, in which he highlighted as an “interesting proposition” a proposal put forward earlier this week by the Australian Vice Chancellor’s Committee (AVCC) to allow Universities to charge higher fees.
“This is at the expense of options which would address the shortfall of public funding. Australia already has a very high level of private funding and yet the Minister seems to only focus on policies to further increase it.
“The NTEU is firm in its belief that students and their families should not be made to shoulder the funding crisis facing universities by having to pay increased fees. At the same time it is important to point out that this was one of a number of policy options put forward by the AVCC in its vision statement for higher education, including for the Government to commit more public funds to universities as part of an effort to raise investment in higher education to 2% of GDP.
“If the review is to play any role in helping to solve the funding crisis facing higher education, then it needs to consider all the policy options available to the Government.
Further information and comment
Dr Carolyn Allport, National President
0419 349 064
Simon Kent, Policy and Research Officer
03 9254 1910, 0408 520 016