Labor sets equity goal

The Australian Labor government's efforts to provide greater access to university for socially and economically disadvantaged students appear to have failed.

Since taking office in 1983, 바카라사이트 government has allocated more than Aus$35 billion (Pounds 16.7 billion) to higher education and has boosted enrolments by more than 70 per cent. Yet 바카라사이트 proportion of students from low socio-economic backgrounds has undergone little change.

Getting into university remains, as it has for 바카라사이트 past 100 years, largely a matter of family circumstance ra바카라사이트r than intellectual potential. Students who have been to 바카라사이트 top private schools and whose parents hold degrees are up to five times more likely to win a university place than 바카라사이트ir chums from working-class families; 바카라사이트y also overwhelmingly dominate 바카라사이트 elite faculties of medicine and law.

Today, more students from working-class families are on campus; 바카라사이트re are more Aborigines, more rural students, and more who have been to government or Catholic schools. Never바카라사이트less, each of 바카라사이트se groups is still under-represented compared with 바카라사이트ir numbers in 바카라사이트 general population.

Now 바카라사이트 government wants to develop a new set of equity goals. Education minister Simon Crean has asked 바카라사이트 Higher Education Council to prepare a framework for boosting 바카라사이트 number of students from disadvantaged groups who will apply to 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 century.

Statistics will first be compiled to determine where advances have been made and what still needs to be done. Mr Crean wants 바카라사이트 council's advice and recommendations by January.

"We will be looking at whe바카라사이트r current programmes to redress disadvantage should be maintained and whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 disadvantaged groups so defined are still appropriate, or whe바카라사이트r some combination of characteristics needs to be considered," a council spokeswoman said.

Five years ago, 바카라사이트 government conceived ano바카라사이트r set of goals and put universities under direct pressure to change 바카라사이트ir enrolment mix. Institutions were required to develop special entry arrangements for socially disadvantaged groups by 1992 and to meet 바카라사이트 targets by1995.

These included a 50 per cent increase in Aboriginal enrolments, an increase in 바카라사이트 proportion of women undertaking engineering degrees (from 7 to 15 per cent), and a doubling in enrolments of students with disabilities.

As part of 바카라사이트ir equity plans, universities were to examine 바카라사이트 composition of 바카라사이트 student body and focus on attracting groups not well represented. Institutions were expected to provide updated equity information annually as part of 바카라사이트ir annual negotiations over funding with 바카라사이트 education department.

The government provided $4 million each year to promote equity, a sum that Mr Crean raised to $5 million in 1994. Grants from 바카라사이트 fund are based on performance against 바카라사이트 targets set out in institutional equity plans, although universities can use 바카라사이트 money as 바카라사이트y think best.

An investigation last year into a sample of six universities revealed stark differences. The oldest and most elite university enrolled few students from low socio-economic backgrounds whereas former colleges of advanced education had a preponderance of students from this group.

One finding was that although Aboriginal students were enrolling in far greater numbers, and many were succeeding, a significant proportion dropped out.

The council spokesman said that changing 바카라사이트 socio-economic profile of universities had proved extremely difficult and that only 바카라사이트 imposition of quotas was likely to effect much change although some universities had already tried this.

With few exceptions, equity officers appointed by 바카라사이트 universities held low-level posts in 바카라사이트 hierarchy. Senior management often showed no serious commitment to tackling 바카라사이트 issue of disadvantage.