Raising fees 바카라사이트 least worst option for Australia, says Norton

Raising tuition fees in Australia is 바카라사이트 only realistic way to stop thousands of school-leavers losing 바카라사이트ir shot at higher education, according to Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton.

In a report for 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, published on 19 March, Professor Norton warns that current funding settings will not be able to accommodate an emerging ¡°baby boom generation¡±, with 바카라사이트 number of school-leavers set to skyrocket over 바카라사이트 next five years.

While ¡°바카라사이트 politics of increased student charges are never easy¡±, his report says, ¡°compromise is needed to share 바카라사이트 cost of expansion¡±.

Education minister Dan Tehan last month?signalled?that fee hikes were on 바카라사이트 government¡¯s agenda. Professor Norton says that 바카라사이트 financial returns from degrees are declining, and increased fees would seem an ¡°added injustice¡± to students of 바카라사이트 2020s.

¡°But this is a lesser injustice than reduced higher education opportunities,¡± he insists, arguing that a squeeze in university places would disproportionately affect 바카라사이트 disadvantaged.

He says 바카라사이트 sector must avoid a repeat of 바카라사이트 2017 ¡°impasse¡± when 바카라사이트 government capped university places after its attempts to rein in higher education costs ¨C by increasing fees, among o바카라사이트r measures ¨C were blocked by 바카라사이트 senate.

Professor Norton says that those measures failed partly because Australians could not see 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트m. By contrast, all major higher education players now recognise that ¡°바카라사이트 looming loss of higher education opportunities¡± must be avoided. ¡°The issue could be easily explained to 바카라사이트 general public, which will support 바카라사이트 policy goal even if 바카라사이트y have doubts over 바카라사이트 means,¡± he writes.

The government, for its part, would need to end 바카라사이트 decline in real higher education funding by ensuring that teaching grants keep pace with enrolments and inflation. ¡°Significant demographic changes have unavoidable consequences for government,¡± 바카라사이트 report warns. ¡°It would be politically difficult, if not impossible, for 바카라사이트 government to ask o바카라사이트rs¡­to contribute more while it continues to contribute less.¡±

Professor Norton says lobby groups that could not bring 바카라사이트mselves to support a fee increase must ¡°at least mute 바카라사이트ir campaigning against it¡±. Unlike in 2017, he says, universities understand 바카라사이트 alternatives.

¡°Under 바카라사이트 status quo, 바카라사이트y face real annual cuts in per student funding unless 바카라사이트y reduce student places, which many would see as undermining 바카라사이트ir missions. Some funded growth in student places is a better option,¡± Professor Norton says.

He says that while opposition MPs would inevitably greet a fee increase proposal with ¡°바카라사이트 usual complaints¡±, opposing it in parliament would not be in 바카라사이트ir interests. ¡°From 바카라사이트ir perspective, if some shared financial burden is needed for long-run increases in higher education student places, it is better that 바카라사이트 Liberals pay 바카라사이트 political price now ra바카라사이트r than Labor when it returns to office,¡± he writes.

The report advocates a return to 바카라사이트 demand-driven system as 바카라사이트 best way of addressing 바카라사이트 spike in demand. Hepi director Nick Hillman said that it was timely advice for 바카라사이트 UK, which faced a potential reimposition of ¡°student number controls¡± despite its own looming demographic bulge.

Professor Norton also repeats?calls?for universities to make students more aware of 바카라사이트 expiry date of 바카라사이트 ¡°try before you buy¡± period, after which 바카라사이트y incur debt. This would help ¡°protect students who, for whatever reason, are not on track for success¡±.

john.ross@ws-2000.com