A price on opportunity

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33514, 20 April 1974, Page 16

A price on opportunity

“To those that have not. it shall he given — those that have must wait.” This is the belief of one of Australia's top educational advisers. Professor Peter Karmel. A brilliant economist who is now chairman of the Australian Universities Commission, Professor Karmel has been responsible for a complete review of the financial reeds of education m Australia. based on the idea that unequal provisions must be made to get equal results In Christchurch vesterdas to attend pan of the Educational De\ elopmeru Conference. Professor Karmel said that the State had the responsbilitv to ensure all children were given equal educational provision*. Where thi-« meant huge State *upport for private then the** schools tnu*t accept a measure of State control or regulation. To suggest that “elitist" private schools should not be allowed would be unfair but no pniate schools should be given aid which would enable them to work at a higher level than State school*. “Our society surely is not so closed that we cannot let people do their own thing in education—*o long as they were prepared to pay for it. if it is so special.” There was little evidence in the extensive studies made in Australia, which will result in aid to top nriva’<’ schools be ng stopped, thai rr re innovative than their St«r.' counteroarts To argue that rhe pri’ at* schools brought diversity to education wa- not alwav* valid. Particularly a* manv of the schools are poor and in 4“'perate ne*d of State assistance.

“We have got to face the., fact that where children are]' disadvantaged massive State aid must be given and this applies to State as well as 11 private schools.” I i Traditionally, schools ini' wealthier areas gained moreh assistance from the community It was in poorer ii areas that the State must in-1 ject more financial and prac-li tical support so that the if whole communitv might'; i benefit. ' , Professor Karmel said that} i Australia and New Zealand,< should not favour higher' education to the detriment of [i pre-school and primary' education ( I “It might be a good deal better all round for more resources i" be made available i for the earlv vears of a child’s ;

education by the provision of adequate numbers of remedial reading teachers and proper libraries, for example.” In trying to stimulate a; fresh approach to education in Australia the commission which Professor Karmel chaired recommended that sAust6m be spent bi-annually on experimental programmes. “Sure, this is a high risk area but even if a lot of them fail the programme will ensure teachers getting out into thej community and finding what is the best solution to parti-; cular problems,” he said. Professor Karmel estimated; that almost sAust4m would, soon be devoted each yeari to such experimental work. “This will be by teachers,; for teachers and by this L mean all teachers in State ! and private schools.”