Minister Good -- Universities Evil. (January 15, 2007)

    To hear the Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, you'd come to the conclusion that Australia's universities, well maybe not all of them, are ripping off their students (perhaps we ought to call them clients or customers, students is so... well... eighties).

But fear not Ms Bishop will protect us from the malevolent 38*. "I'll ensure university fees are fair."

According to The Age Ms Bishop has "vowed to ensure universities are not unnecessarily charging high fees".

The broadsheet goes on to report that the Minister has:

• Called for greater Commonwealth control over how the states spend federal funding on public schools, saying some were in a state of "chronic neglect".

• Warned she could force the states to introduce a common eligible school starting age, a national year 12 certificate and compulsory English in years 11 and 12 by making them conditions of federal funding if they continued to resist her push for national consistency.

• Called on schools to focus on grammar from the early years, warning it would be assessed in next year's national literacy tests in years 3, 5, 7 and 9.

Sounding increasingly like a petulant parent unable to control her unruly charges, she indicated that if the universities were to mend their spendthrift behaviour, they could significantly reduce their students' HEC fees.  She told The Age, "A number of consultants working with universities … have identified a significant number of areas where sensible cost savings could be made. I will be looking at those in view of ensuring universities are not unnecessarily charging high fees for the delivery of courses when they could be in a position to lower HECS."

The universities had better beware, Ms Bishop, who is adamant that students must be taught the proper use of the language said "I will", so it looks like the lady means business.

If nothing else it becomes ever more clear that the Minister sees as her first priority the prescriptive management of her portfolio regarding primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

There has been no serious attempt by either her or her immediate predecessor to redress the problems of the inadequate resourcing for the teaching in primary and secondary schools of science and mathematics or teaching and research at the tertiary and post graduate levels.

One clear indication of the Minister's indifference to the serious problems facing the tertiary sector is seen in her apparent utter disinterest in the the year-long review, released a month ago, The National Strategic Review of Mathematical Research in Australia which concludes that representation of mathematics and statistics in Australia's university sector is dangerously deficient and recommends an immediate injection of funds to rebuild university mathematics and statistics departments, the protection of their autonomy, and ensuring the future of the Australian Mathematical Science Institute (AMSI).

Neither Ms Bishop nor any member of her department has given any public recognition that the report with its 18 recommendations exists.

*For a rogues' gallery of the recalcitrant 38 click here.