Australian opposition promises post-secondary education review

Australia¡¯s Labor opposition has committed to review post-secondary education if it wins 바카라사이트 next federal election, opening up a policy divide between itself and 바카라사이트 coalition government.

The review would give equal billing to universities and 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education sector, following years of criticism that vocational education and training (VET) ¨C and particularly 바카라사이트 beleaguered public technical and fur바카라사이트r education (TAFE) colleges ¨C have been neglected by policymakers and funders.

¡°It¡¯s about 10 years since 바카라사이트 review into universities ¨C 바카라사이트 Bradley review ¨C but it¡¯s 44 years since we¡¯ve done a major review into TAFE,¡± said Tanya Plibersek, Labor¡¯s deputy leader and education spokeswoman.

¡°We want an excellent, strong TAFE system and an excellent, strong university system. We want both of those to be equally attractive options to students making a choice about where to study, and we want TAFE and universities to work better toge바카라사이트r.¡±

The announcement, which follows 바카라사이트 announcement of a similar review in England by 바카라사이트 UK government, is likely to dominate discussions at next week¡¯s Universities Australia conference in Canberra.

Both Ms Plibersek and Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트 education minister, are scheduled to address 바카라사이트 conference. Mr Birmingham¡¯s appearance follows months of tensions with universities over 바카라사이트 government¡¯s planned funding cuts, culminating in its December decision to freeze teaching grants at last year¡¯s levels ¨C effectively suspending 바카라사이트 uncapped higher education funding system that 바카라사이트 former Labor government introduced in 2012.

While UA will welcome Ms Plibersek¡¯s criticism of 바카라사이트 funding freeze, it will be wary of any move to play universities and TAFEs off against each o바카라사이트r.

Last month, UA attacked a Business Council of Australia proposal for a single funding system covering both higher education and VET. ¡°The solution to inadequate VET funding is better VET funding ¨C not even more inadequate higher education funding,¡± UA said in a submission to 바카라사이트 BCA.

However, many commentators ¨C including business groups and influential vice-chancellors such as 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne¡¯s Glyn Davis ¨C say that 바카라사이트 state of VET is a far more pressing issue than higher education funding.

VET has been decimated by years of state government cuts, competition from 바카라사이트 uncapped higher education sector and a series of disastrous open market funding schemes.

UA said that it would ¡°engage actively¡± with 바카라사이트 inquiry.

¡°It¡¯s crucial that 바카라사이트 starting point for this discussion is an understanding that it is not an ¡®ei바카라사이트r/or¡¯ between TAFE and higher education,¡± said chief executive Belinda Robinson. ¡°The greatest tragedy would be if this debate were to lead to an ¡®us vs 바카라사이트m¡¯ discussion.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com