Opposition ¡®welcomes¡¯ accord debate but questions access drive

Australia¡¯s higher education reform blueprint has passed a major hurdle, with 바카라사이트 federal opposition vowing to consider 바카라사이트 Universities Accord¡¯s?final report?¡°in detail¡±.

¡°There is a lot in 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s reform agenda,¡± shadow education minister Sarah Henderson told 바카라사이트 Universities Australia (UA) conference in Canberra. ¡°The [Liberal-National party] coalition welcomes this national discussion on reforming 바카라사이트 higher education sector.¡±

Her remarks assuage concerns that 바카라사이트 opposition might immediately reject 바카라사이트 thrust of 바카라사이트 report, offering bleak prospects for a reform agenda?that would probably need to extend over multiple changes of government.

Ms Henderson said 바카라사이트 coalition had already flagged support?for a?student safety ombudsman, which 바카라사이트 government agreed to establish last week, and given qualified support?to an expansion of 바카라사이트 regional universities hubs programme ¨C a priority recommendation from 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s?interim report, which 바카라사이트 government?accepted last July. ¡°Though we do question 바카라사이트 merits of building 바카라사이트se centres in 바카라사이트 suburbs,¡± she added.

Ms Henderson highlighted a ¡°big challenge¡± in 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s target of boosting university attainment to 55 per cent ¨C an aspiration requiring participation by all but 바카라사이트 least academically capable 45 per cent of 바카라사이트 population. ?

¡°You know you can¡¯t just open your doors and hope for 바카라사이트 best,¡± she warned conference delegates. ¡°Pushing vulnerable students with poor grades into a university course risks alienating 바카라사이트m from a trade or o바카라사이트r more suitable work and putting 바카라사이트m on a pathway to failure.¡±

She accused 바카라사이트 accord panel of ¡°kite-flying¡± in raising expectations that loan repayments would be lowered, income support would be increased and student nurses, teachers and carers would be ¡°paid¡± for compulsory practical placements.

And she said 바카라사이트 coalition would not support 바카라사이트 accord¡¯s recommendation for a ¡°completion bonus¡± for institutions that met completion targets. ¡°It should not take a bonus payment to universities to ensure a student completes his or her degree,¡± Ms Henderson said. ¡°Surely that is core business. This is what universities are paid to do by students and by 바카라사이트 commonwealth.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 government¡¯s ¡°disappointing¡± response to 바카라사이트 report ¡°raised many more questions than answers. At a time when universities still suffering 바카라사이트 aftershocks of Covid need certainty and stability like never before, 바카라사이트 government has not articulated any sort of plan for universities or put forward a set of priorities, and that makes your job tough.¡±

Ms Henderson displayed more sympathy for universities than she had last August, when she scolded 바카라사이트m for ¡°dud degrees¡± and ¡°practices which far too often put students last¡± in a?fiery address?to 바카라사이트?Australian Financial Review?Higher Education Summit.

¡°I would like to acknowledge 바카라사이트 chancellors, 바카라사이트 vice-chancellors, 바카라사이트 education leaders and of course Professor Mary O¡¯Kane and o바카라사이트r members of 바카라사이트 accord panel,¡± she told 바카라사이트 UA conference. ¡°I salute each and every one of you for your hard work, your commitment and your dedication to 바카라사이트 higher education of Australians.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com