Is HEA using OECD for return of college Fees?

national | miscellaneous | opinion/analysis

Monday February 16, 2004 18:21

by Grudge Report

The drop in CAO numbers was reported on the front page of last Wednesday’s Irish Times. However it only briefly mentioned that the OECD is currently working on a report of the third level sector here. What it didn’t mention though was that this was at the behest of the Higher Education Authority. Also going unreported is the fact that the OECD heaped praise in a report (following an IMF heaping similar praise) upon Blair’s top up fees in January. I wonder if the HEA and the Dept of Education are expecting an OECD change of heart, in regards to it’s future report for our colleges?

These two institutions are not impartial they are "neo-liberal" or even "dogmatic", given that both the IMF and the OECD have a view of the world that was forged in the inflationary 1970s and has remained unchanged ever since. These institutions were long ago seized by those who believe as a matter of ideology that low tax economies are superior to high tax economies, that the private sector is to be preferred to the public sector, and that any government which pursues an alternative agenda is heading for inflation and bankruptcy. But what they fail to recognise is that counter-cyclical fiscal policies have contributed to Britain’s that superior performance. Keynesian (Franklin D Roosevelt/Hugo Chavez style) economics has worked.

Yes I can see it now the minister of education, propped up by the HEA clutching the OECD’s “impartial” not at all at all one sided report and how we have no choice (very democratic) but to follow it’s direction to bring back college fees (and possibly privatising some colleges and I Ts) or our third level sector will just explode.

See below for a Guardian article on the OECD’s British third level top up fees praise and how it sees, hears or speaks no Keynesian economics.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/story/0,3604,1127538,00.html

And pasted below,

Pssst! Don't mention JM Keynes

OECD hasn't spotted his influence yet

Wednesday January 21, 2004
The Guardian

Last month it was the International Monetary Fund. This month it is the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development saying rude things about the government's spending plans, issuing doom-laden warnings about how Gordon Brown's profligacy will end in tears.
In the press, these reports are normally graced with the adjectives "authoritative" or "influential". A better description, however, would be "neo-liberal" or even "dogmatic", given that both the IMF and the OECD have a view of the world that was forged in the inflationary 1970s and has remained unchanged ever since. These institutions were long ago seized by those who be lieve as a matter of ideology that low tax economies are superior to high tax economies, that the private sector is to be preferred to the public sector, and that any government which pursues an alternative agenda is heading for inflation and bankruptcy.

So, before we are tempted to take the latest warning too seriously, it is worth putting up the other side of the argument. First, the investment in the public sector is long overdue and desperately needed. And it's starting to work. Second, the investment has been good for the economy. The IMF and the OECD have been lavish in their praise of Britain, noting it has grown more quickly than other European economies. But what they fail to recognise is that counter-cyclical fiscal policies have contributed to that superior performance. Keynesian economics has worked. Finally, the UK's fiscal balance sheet is healthy enough to take several years of budget deficits. The debt to output ratio is low, and there is not the slightest risk it will rise above the government's 40% ceiling.

One area in which ministers will no doubt welcome OECD intervention will be the support given for university top-up fees. They should beware, since this is a classic case of Greeks bearing gifts.

To be sure, the thinktank likes the idea that students should pay more towards the cost of their courses, but it clearly thinks that once the principle is established in higher education it can be extended to other areas of the public sector. If it is right to have user fees for universities, the OECD sees no logical reason why they should not be applied to those who want non-generic drugs from the health service. This is the thin edge of a very fat wedge.

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Related link

by Grudge report

Mon Feb 16, 2004 21:51

See the link below

http://breakingnews.iol.ie/news/story.asp?j=38302290&p=383xz575&n=38302580

and pasted below

OECD ‘to recommend reintroduction of college fees’
16/02/2004 - 08:13:32

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is reportedly set to recommend the reintroduction of third-level fees in Ireland.

Reports this morning said a review of the Irish third-level system by the OECD would also recommend mergers or closer ties between some universities and institutes of technology.

Last year, Education Minister Noel Dempsey was forced to abandon his plans to reintroduce college fees following widespread opposition to the policy, particularly from his Government colleagues.

The fees were abolished about a decade ago in an effort to make third-level education more affordable to the less well-off.

Local elections to be a referendum on college fees? - Young Fine Gael

by President - YFG

Tue Feb 17, 2004 13:23

Young Fine Gael have today said that June' s local elections could be about to turn into a referendum on the re-introduction of colleges fees. This follows reports today of proposals by the OECD to re-introduce college fees in Ireland.

Young Fine Gael President William Lavelle states: "YFG are completely against college fees and we will campaign for the local elections with the aim of encouraging young people to get out and vote to keep free education by voting Fine Gael.

"Last month, we made a submission to the OECD review in which we outlined our belief that in order to drive real & profound social and economic progression in Ireland, that the state must invest more in higher education.

"Any further state investment should be seen as investment in the future which will reap both an economic and social return to the state in the form of increased economic competitiveness, increased tax revenue and reduced social welfare and criminal justice costs.

"In our submission we also made clear our view that the state must not place any financial burdens, no matter how small, before prospective entrants to higher education. Education is a right, not a privilege, and should never be treated as a commodity to be bought. Every citizen should have equal access to education, no matter what their background."

Lavelle added: "We don't buy the idea of the re-introduction of fees only the 'well-off'. In reality, the number of families in the state who would be in a position to comfortably afford the enormous costs of both fees and maintenance is so small that if fees were to be re-introduced, then to make the system work, middle-income families would end up paying the fees.

"Young Fine Gael also is completely opposed to the introduction of any form of student-loan system. Ireland already has one of the highest levels of personal debt in the world. It would be completely wrong to burden young graduates with an automatic debt of €20,000+ on the day they start work.

Ends../

NOTE:

The full text of Young Fine Gael's submission to the OECD Review of Higher Education in Ireland can be viewed online at www.yfg.ie

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Is HEA using OECD for return of college Fees?

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