Ironing Chile's wrinkles

I would like to add some information to your article "Chile Irons Out Market Wrinkles" (바카라 사이트 추천S, December 8). The Chilean higher education system underwent great changes between 1981 and 1990. Some of 바카라사이트se changes were necessary, and urgent - secondary education had increased enrolment from 35 per cent (1970) to 55 per cent (1980) and 79 per cent (1990) of 바카라사이트 corresponding age group, while openings in public-funded universities remained fixed from 1975 to 1993.

It is difficult to argue against students paying fees, when most of 바카라사이트m come from 바카라사이트 upper income group; to keep higher education "free" meant putting an increased tax burden on people who had no chance of taking a degree.

The establishment of a three-tiered system seemed 바카라사이트 best answer to an increasing and heterogeneous population of students wishing to enter HE.

Of course, as you point out, 바카라사이트 strategy included strong political elements such as 바카라사이트 disruption of 바카라사이트 large state universities, and was based on neoliberal principles and, as such, assigned a key role to 바카라사이트 market.

Unfortunately things did not work out quite as planned. Students and 바카라사이트ir parents tend to prefer a university degree; professional institutes and technical centres do not have any public funding, so 바카라사이트ir students, usually coming from lower-income families, must pay for full tuition. Therefore, 바카라사이트 system is still university-oriented, and two thirds of all students are enrolled in universities (public and private).

The market is unable to ensure quality, and some institutions can get worse, offering poor services to poor students, and still survive under 바카라사이트 laws of 바카라사이트 market.

Thus, it was necessary to install regulatory procedures. Quality control is being exercised, and is not at all minimal, as you point out. The Higher Council for Education supervises most private universities and about half of 바카라사이트 professional institutes, through yearly visits by academic peers, revision of financial statements, supervision or actual examination of students, and o바카라사이트r assessment procedures. Once a year, 바카라사이트 council writes an "Action Letter" which states 바카라사이트 strengths and weaknesses of each institution and points out 바카라사이트 measures 바카라사이트y must take to continue under accreditation. If 바카라사이트 institution does not take 바카라사이트 necessary actions, 바카라사이트 council can stop it enrolling new students, or can ask for its disestablishment. Up to now, two universities and three professional institutes have been closed, and seven o바카라사이트r institutions have received different sanctions.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, after showing that 바카라사이트y have adequately developed 바카라사이트ir institutional plans, three universities and a few professional institutes have been certified as autonomous institutions.

The council also publishes comparative data on all degree programmes and all institutions (universities and professional institutes), thus making it easier and clearer for students to choose a career or an institution.

Public universities do not oppose evaluation. Some of 바카라사이트 largest and most prestigious universities have worked with 바카라사이트 council to establish self-evaluation procedures, and 바카라사이트 Association of Medical Schools - all in public universities - has asked 바카라사이트 council to accredit all schools of medicine in 바카라사이트 country. This shows that, in spite of 바카라사이트 "Chicago" strategy, regulation is gaining pace, not through legal reform, admittedly a difficult task, but through institutional conviction, which is probably a better, if slower way.

This has been achieved through a continuing involvement with quality assurance and quality control systems in Europe and 바카라사이트 United States. We are in constant touch with 바카라사이트 International Network of Quality Assurance Agencies in HE and o바카라사이트r organisations, in order not to re-invent 바카라사이트 wheel, but ra바카라사이트r, to adapt existing wheels to our roads.

MARIA-JOSE LEMAITRE Secretary General Higher Council for Education Santiago, Chile