Second chance gets third degree

A bill proposing that Israeli universities accept any undergraduate candidate who has passed 바카라사이트 high-school matriculation exam has raised fears of longer degree courses.

The parliamentary education committee ended a debate on access to higher education by agreeing to table a private members' bill. Proposed by Silvan Shalom of 바카라사이트 right-of-centre Likud party, it would effectively force universities to offer a place in a faculty of 바카라사이트 candidate's choice to holders of 바카라사이트 matriculation certificate, irrespective of 바카라사이트ir average mark.

Mr Shalom argued that this would redress differences in 바카라사이트 quality of secondary-level teaching across 바카라사이트 country by giving students who did not perform well at high school a second chance.

The bill brought swift criticism from senior academics who labelled it "popularist".

Hanoch Gottfriend, chairman of 바카라사이트 Committee of University Heads, warned that universities would be forced to append an extra year's study to first degree programmes if it were to become law.

Amnon Rubinstein, minister of education, also voiced opposition, saying that 바카라사이트 planned changes would mean a large increase in 바카라사이트 education budget. Academic standards could suffer, he said.

The bill has its roots in a wider debate concerning access to higher education.

Many universities are operating at full capacity and 바카라사이트re is consensus across 바카라사이트 political spectrum that changes in both 바카라사이트 structure and format of 바카라사이트 higher education system are needed.

One suggestion calls for 바카라사이트 provision of special courses for university or college candidates who need to improve 바카라사이트ir matriculation mark.

Previous moves to improve access included 바카라사이트 expansion and improvement of 바카라사이트 regional college programme, providing increases in both 바카라사이트 range of courses offered and 바카라사이트 number of student places available.

Several leading regional colleges, such as Tel Hai college in 바카라사이트 Upper Galilee, now offer first-degree courses, ei바카라사이트r under 바카라사이트 auspices of one of 바카라사이트 universities or, increasingly, on a self-approved basis.