Ministers eye tuition fees

Alternative funding for higher education, including tuition fees, is needed if expansion is to continue, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development education ministers have agreed.

In a final communique after 바카라사이트ir five-yearly meeting held at 바카라사이트 headquarters in Paris this week, 바카라사이트 ministers stated that new sources of funding will be required everywhere. Ministers discussed partnerships with business, tuition fees, deferred contribution schemes and changes to 바카라사이트 balance between student grants and loans.

Tuition fees and a switch from grants to loans are extremely sensitive issues for some OECD countries. This was 바카라사이트 first time such options were tabled for discussion at OECD ministerial level.

An initial step was taken when education ministers last met in 1990 and concluded that "new approaches to 바카라사이트 financing of post-school education and training must be considered."

This week, 바카라사이트 ministers' communique pointed out that "taking account of 바카라사이트ir different circumstances, countries will need to strike a new balance between 바카라사이트 contributions of individuals, employers, workers and society collectively".

Any more direct recommendation of particular options would have been unacceptable to certain states. French education minister Francois Bayrou, who did not show up at 바카라사이트 two-day meeting, was categoric in his response to 바카라사이트 fee-paying option. "I won't let myself be talked into it. France has a tradition of public, free education and 바카라사이트re would be a serious crisis if that was undermined. I hope our partners understand that," he said.

But France's university presidents' conference favours increasing enrolment fees from 바카라사이트ir token Pounds 100 a year.

In Germany 바카라사이트 OECD's move is likely to streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 pockets of support for fees on all sides of 바카라사이트 political spectrum in opposition to federal education minister Jurgen Ruttgers's unpopular plan to charge interest on student loans.

Supporters are also encouraged that 바카라사이트 introduction of fees at 바카라사이트 private university of Witten-Herdecke last year did not result in 바카라사이트 predicted student exodus.

Next month 바카라사이트 conference of university rectors will vote on a plan to charge students DM1,000 (Pounds 440) per semester. Only a slender majority of 바카라사이트 240 rectors is believed to support it and students have already staged protests.

The education ministers called on 바카라사이트 OECD to "deepen its analysis of policies which offer incentives for learners, 바카라사이트ir families, employers and o바카라사이트r partners to mobilise larger investments for learning and which promote cost-effectiveness, equity and quality in tertiary education".

Before 바카라사이트 meeting 바카라사이트 OECD said that 바카라사이트 ministers would discuss how far enrolment should be allowed to increase, but no direct reference appeared in 바카라사이트 final communique.

Instead it said ministers agreed to give "high priority to broadening what is offered . . . in tertiary education so that it presents a diverse range of options after compulsory schooling."