Rod Carr Op-Ed in The Press 18-2-10


I suspect the issues of access, fees, funding and progression at universities will be major topics this year.
 
We need to keep our eye on the ball. Universities are expensive investments for society but they pay-off over time, at least so long as they are of a good quality and the students attending are prepared well enough to take advantage of the opportunity. 

At the University of Canterbury the failure rate of first-year mature and part-time students is twice the failure rate of full-time younger first years. 

The public impression that it is lazy, drifting school leavers who account for the high first-year attrition rates at university is not correct. 

Irrespective of who should have access, access to a poor quality education is a con. We should not be a party to a fraud. 

A quality education costs money and if there is a falling budget, then fewer people will have access if quality is maintained. 

Some of those being denied access are not well enough prepared to take advantage of the opportunity offered. Others who were granted access turn out not to be able to take advantage of the opportunity without modest or significant extra support. And some are simply unable to progress.

High school is the most appropriate place to prepare for university and that should be made clear to all young New Zealanders

Remedial programmes at university are an expensive and distracting activity if required in all but exceptional cases. 

To protect access for a given number of students of given ability, then either government or students must pay more or universities will select prospective students on merit. UC current policy is to select on merit after students have had the opportunity to perform in our environment. 

We seek to keep entry open as long as possible for as many as possible who are prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.
	
It is likely that all students should be assessed prior to entry irrespective of age and those not adequately prepared should not get entry, at least to universities. There may be other forms of higher education that are more suitable for some than university. 

Debasing what constitutes a degree is a cruel deception to play on people. A dollar is not what it used to be and we are at risk of doing the same to a university education. 

If the government is unwilling or unable to pay the cost, at least allow students to contribute to maintain standards.

Eroding national standards by eroding funding and maintaining declining real fee caps makes everyone worse off except those who leave for Australia. 

If the government is concerned about access due to financial barriers it should target financial assistance on the basis of financial hardship. 

If the government is concerned about access on the basis some are inadequately prepared it should fund cost effective pre-tertiary programmes or invest in and demand more from the secondary schools which, afterall, are the appropriate institutions to deliver pre-university education. 

The over-20 right of entry was introduced to accommodate returning servicemen whose education had been disrupted.  There should be a uniform entry qualification for all. Irrespective of age. 

Access should be blind to personal financial circumstances and continued taxpayer support should be conditional on adequate academic progress. 

While that may sound sensible that is not how our university system is operated today. The direction we must move in is clear, appropriate entry standards and clear requirements for progression. 


ENDS.