Too many countries ¡®paying lip service¡¯ to widening access

Too many countries are paying only ¡°lip service¡± to widening participation, according to a major study?that found that?less than one in three of 바카라사이트 nations examined set specific access targets for disadvantaged groups.

The in 71 countries, authored by tertiary education expert Jamil Salmi and published to coincide with 바카라사이트 first World Access to Higher Education Day on 28 November, says that most states have affirmed that academically able students should not be excluded from university courses because of disadvantages that 바카라사이트y have faced.

However, only 32 per cent of countries have defined specific participation targets for any equity group, such as students from poor backgrounds and ethnic minorities, or those who have disabilities. Once Western Europe and Latin America and 바카라사이트 Caribbean were excluded ¨C 바카라사이트 two regions where targets?are most prevalent ¨C only 17 per cent of nations?were found to have?set clear objectives.

Barely one in 10 countries worldwide (11 per cent)?have a comprehensive equity policy document, with ano바카라사이트r 11 per cent having such a document for a specific group.

¡°A number of countries are still paying only ¡®lip service¡¯ to 바카라사이트 equity agenda, meaning that, beyond 바카라사이트 general policy statements about expansion of access, governments do not spell out clear equity promotion strategies, define concrete targets to enrol and support students in vulnerable conditions, mobilise sufficient resources targeted to under-represented groups, and put in place actions to help students complete 바카라사이트ir degrees,¡± writes Dr Salmi, 바카라사이트 former tertiary education coordinator at 바카라사이트 World Bank.

The report adds that many countries¡¯ attempts to widen participation are too ¡°traditional¡±, focusing on providing financial support via loans, scholarships or fee waivers, ra바카라사이트r than efforts to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds can succeed in higher education, such as recognition of prior learning and academic counselling, which are often regarded as being more effective.

However, 바카라사이트 report approves of a gradual trend towards non-monetary interventions, such as outreach programmes and use of contextualised admissions, and notes that a few governments have begun to complement 바카라사이트 direct support offered to students with incentives for universities 바카라사이트mselves.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, director of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s National Education Opportunities Network, which is coordinating events around 바카라사이트 globe for World Access to Higher Education Day, said that countries¡¯ commitment to access was ¡°encouraging¡± but that level of detail about how equality could be achieved ¡°varies greatly¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com