USyd “disappointed” in budget as private providers prioritised
For-profit tertiary education providers will receive a $53 million funding package
May 17, 2021
The University of Sydney has criticised the Federal budget for its failure to “address the serious challenges facing the [university] sector.” The news comes as the Liberal government announced a $53 million boost to for-profit private tertiary education providers. By contrast, universities will experience a 9.3% decrease in funding over the next four years.
A University spokesperson told
Honi that they were “concerned the extremely welcome Research Support Program emergency funding has not been renewed, particularly given the extension of border closures well into 2022, limiting the ability of our international students to enter the country.”
Australian government demands return to face-to-face university classes
Despite the worsening global COVID-19 pandemic, the Australian government has called on the country’s public universities to bring all their students back onto campus.
This demand, issued by federal Education Minister Alan Tudge last week, is part of the government’s drive to fully reopen the economy to satisfy the profit requirements of big business, regardless of recurring infection outbreaks across the continent.
“Universities should absolutely have students back on campus, within the COVID-safe rules of their relevant state or territory,” Tudge declared. “If we can have 50,000 people at a football match, surely we can have COVID-safe face-to-face learning on campus. Our universities have to focus more on giving Australian students the best possible learning experience.”
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Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge has called on universities to bring all their local students back on campus straight away as parents, students and academics grow increasingly frustrated by some universities dragging their feet on the return to face-to-face learning.
Parents are worried about their childrenâs mental health and the National Union of Students has accused universities of cutting staff and costs under the guise of COVID-19 safety.
While some universities have most of their students back on campus, this is not uniform and other universities wonât return to normal until August or will pursue a ânew normalâ.
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