Uni scandal creates enrolment chaos

Friday, 19 January 2007

"Uni for cash" scandal creates enrolment chaos

The Greens today called on NSW Education Minister Carmel Tebbutt to convene an emergency meeting of her state and territory counterparts to demand that the Howard government impose a moratorium on full fee paying University places.

Greens NSW Education Spokesperson and Upper House Candidate John Kaye said: "The university entrance system has been driven to the edge of collapse by the Howard government's deregulation of full fee places and their systematic under-funding of public institutions.

"The quality of tertiary education is being compromised by the Howard government's grab for cash. Carmel Tebbutt has an obligation to work with her Labor colleagues in the other states and territories to put a stop to this undermining of Australia's universities.

"Two years ago the union, student bodies and the Greens warned state and federal governments that the system would be placed under unacceptable pressure by deregulation.

"Universities have begun to abandon the coordinated admissions index system in favour of their own criteria. While this may work for some courses, it can also produce massively unfair outcomes for many students.

"State and territory ministers have a unique opportunity to stand up to the federal government and force changes that protect the integrity of the assessment system and ensure that admission is based on ability, not wealth.

"So far Carmel Tebbutt and her seven Labor colleagues have been quite spineless in dealing with federal ministers like Julie Bishop.

"The current crisis gives them the opportunity to display some serious resolve and, for once, drive the agenda on education.

"If they don't, the next three years will see the collapse of the university entrance system and the uncontrolled growth of full fee paying courses," Dr Kaye said.