Feb 12, 2005
Your Insights
Last week, Insight examined the key changes that are taking place in tertiary education. Readers wrote in with their comments:
'I WOULD like to highlight two issues concerning cost and quality of university education with regard to the impending university reforms.
The fees hike should not aggravate the financial burden of students from lower-income groups, even with the ready availability of loans.
It would be pointless for the Government to establish schemes to assist poorer families, while simultaneously taxing their children in their pursuit of higher education.These are the same students who would probably have to take on more part-time jobs to cover university costs, thereby affecting their studies in the process.
It would therefore be fair to suggest that tuition fees be waived completely and unconditionally for students from families with a monthly income of less than $1,500.
As for quality of university education, the most important factor for the student is not just having good lecturers or facilities, but that of the student-ratio population.When I was an undergraduate in the early 1990s, the ratio was 1:6 on average for tutorials, and 15 people per class was considered outrageous. Today, the ratio has turned into an average of 1:30 for classes for many modules, with overworked lecturers who are also expected to be excellent administrators and researchers at the same time.
Hence, I urge those involved in the restructuring of tertiary education to get to the ground to get the basics right, rather musing on building castles in the air.'
LIEW KAI KHIUN