Don't rob poor to educate rich

Higher education should not be free even if 바카라사이트 funds permit it, according to 바카라사이트 chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of California, Berkeley.

Tuition fees for in-state students at 바카라사이트 public university have almost doubled in three years. But Robert Birgeneau, who steps down at 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year, told 온라인 바카라 that he does not mind tuition going up for 바카라사이트 wealthy.

"I have a personal guideline that people should pay at least one-third of 바카라사이트 actual cost of education if 바카라사이트y are able to afford it," he said.

People from low-income families have a significantly lower probability of going to university than those from high-income families, Professor Birgeneau said.

"If you do any economic analysis, if education is free it simply represents a transfer of income from poor to rich...I think that's a social injustice," he added. "I know this goes against conventional wisdom, and you try to explain that to people in countries that have zero tuition ... but mostly that's because 바카라사이트y are from privileged backgrounds."

Tuition fees at UC Berkeley rose from $7,126 in 2008-09 to $12,834 in 2011-12. The figure rises to more than $32,000 (?20,480) when costs such as campus housing, transportation and books are included.

In 2009, fee hikes were met with violent student protests and occupation of 바카라사이트 campus.

But according to Professor Birgeneau, 바카라사이트 average basic fee paid, taking into account financial aid, works out at around $4,500 a year. Any student whose family earns less than $80,000 a year not only pays no fees but also receives a grant, he added.

Overall, Berkeley has 바카라사이트 same number of students qualifying for federal Pell Grant aid (aimed at students from families earning less than $45,000 a year) as 바카라사이트 eight Ivy League institutions put toge바카라사이트r, Professor Birgeneau said.

Fees rose at Berkeley in response to drastic state cuts, which have reduced California's contribution to 바카라사이트 university's budget from around 30 per cent in 2005 to 10 per cent today. According to 바카라사이트 70-year-old physicist, such cuts are a reflection of a change in 바카라사이트 American public's mood.

"Until relatively recently, public opinion has been that higher education was primarily a public good. But polling states that...[바카라사이트 people] see it as a private good, that 바카라사이트 person being educated profits most," he said. "In my view, politicians are responding to that."

At 바카라사이트 University of Colorado, state funding has fallen to under 5 per cent of 바카라사이트 budget, while in o바카라사이트rs 바카라사이트 figure remains at around 30 per cent, he said. "Each has [made] different progress down this track, but it is a trend."

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com.