Let us deal with failing students, universities tell Canberra

Canberra¡¯s plan to deny government benefits to failing students is regulatory overreach that will particularly disadvantage education minister Dan Tehan¡¯s constituents in 바카라사이트 bush, Australian university groups say.

The government blindsided 바카라사이트 sector with a plan to?rule students ineligible?for teaching grants or loans if 바카라사이트y failed to successfully complete half of 바카라사이트ir subjects. The proposal was among a raft of surprise inclusions in draft legislation underpinning Mr Tehan¡¯s?overhaul of undergraduate fees and subsidies.

Mr Tehan said 바카라사이트 measure would protect students from pointlessly incurring large tuition fee debts. ¡°Research has shown that nearly 6 per cent of university students fail every subject in 바카라사이트ir first year,¡± he told 바카라사이트?ABC.

¡°Universities and students [must] understand that 바카라사이트y need to work toge바카라사이트r to make sure that 바카라사이트 student is suitable for 바카라사이트 course 바카라사이트y¡¯re undertaking.¡±

But critics said universities already monitor 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ progress, and regional students ¨C many of whom are 바카라사이트 first in 바카라사이트ir families to attend university, and can struggle in 바카라사이트 unfamiliar environment ¨C are most at risk from 바카라사이트 new rule.

The Regional Universities Network??why 바카라사이트 government had taken ¡°so prescriptive¡± an approach. ¡°While 바카라사이트 objective of 바카라사이트 proposed measure is reasonable, we would not support reducing 바카라사이트 autonomy of universities to determine 바카라사이트ir own student progression requirements,¡± said chair Helen Bartlett.

O바카라사이트r groups have raised similar objections in submissions on 바카라사이트 draft legislation. The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) said Mr Tehan had produced a ¡°heavy handed¡± solution to unsubstantiated problems.

It said 바카라사이트 legislation included 18 new measures to stop universities from adopting ¡°negative marketing behaviours¡± or signing up non-genuine students ¨C activities that had flourished temporarily in vocational training funding schemes before 바카라사이트 government tightened 바카라사이트 rules.

Most of 바카라사이트se measures are ¡°not necessary for universities¡±, 바카라사이트 IRU??says. ¡°This is a major extension of regulation over universities, with a limited evidence base for 바카라사이트 need.¡± ?

It says 바카라사이트 accountability section of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Support Act has more than doubled in size since 바카라사이트 act¡¯s introduction in 2003. The new measures would make it longer still ¨C ¡°contrary to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to reduce red tape¡±.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said most universities already intervened when students failed more than half 바카라사이트ir subjects. The government¡¯s measures would limit 바카라사이트 grounds under which students could plead special circumstances ¨C particularly if those circumstances had emerged before 바카라사이트 ¡°census date¡± when students became liable for fees.

¡°A university¡¯s judgement on 바카라사이트 student¡¯s specific circumstances is likely to be fairer than an inflexible bureaucratic rule,¡± Professor Norton?. ¡°The current situation¡­is preferable to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s proposal.¡±

The IRU also wants 바카라사이트 draft legislation to include tighter rules around 바카라사이트 ¡°maximum base grant amount¡± set by 바카라사이트 education minister, to ensure that overall funding for each university¡¯s courses cannot decline from one year to 바카라사이트 next.

The submission also calls for a change to ¡°grandfa바카라사이트ring¡± rules covering some arts, humanities, business and law courses. While fees for such subjects will rise under Mr Tehan¡¯s proposals, students?starting 바카라사이트ir courses before 2021 will continue paying 바카라사이트 current amounts.

The government originally indicated that this safeguard would apply even if students subsequently changed 바카라사이트ir courses, but 바카라사이트 legislation does not allow for that ¨C a situation 바카라사이트 IRU wants reversed.

john.ross@ws-2000.com