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Reform that education needs most
Australian government has finally seen fit to review its overseas education policy and has announced its overhaul. Although there are claims that this sector of economy brings in approx. USD 15.5 billion through international students choosing to come here for their higher education, the government, despite having known of the problems which beset this ‘unhealthy’ industry, has done little to date to resolve those problems, particularly the problems in the areas of accreditation, role of recruitment agents and curriculum taught.
The timing of the announcement was precise but curiously at the time when the External Affairs Minister of India was in the middle of his five day visit down under. Understandably the sweeping changes announced by the government, include the assurance from the Australian government that Indian international students would be perfectly safe in Australia. The changes announced will review the legislation governing education services for overseas students, focusing on four main areas - the welfare of students, quality of services, regulation and the sustainability of the industry.
The Australian Indian community welcomes these reviews which have been long overdue particularly in light of the violent attacks on Indian students. The issue of ‘shonky private colleges providing dubious diplomas, visa abuses and the collapse of educational institutions’, is an issue which the government would have seen coming long time ago, after all it is the direct result of the neglect and total disrespect with which the government has treated this sector since the education was ‘deregulated’.
After deregulation, although the possibility of ‘shonky operators’ would definitely have dawned upon the bureaucrats who planned this transition, the industry was left to market forces for its determination and finding its equilibrium. The namesake checks and balances put in place at the time of transition meant nothing for the unscrupulous operators who, being those few bad apples, spoilt the whole education basket.
Not every college is ‘Sterling or MIC’ and not all the players in this game, including the students, are the same - yet the contemptuous neglect with which the government treated the sector, has landed the sector in a cesspool. While Mr Baird should rightly consult the players - as announced, his brief has to be more than find the balance of convenience, struck by the market forces in the context of laissez faire framework!
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