State Pupils Missing Out

By JEREMY CALVERT,
education reporter
Melbourne Herald Sun, Friday, September 5, 2003

TOP students from state schools are missing out on accelerated learning programs at universities.

Private school students dominate the government funded programs, in which talented Year 12 students take on first year university units.

A Federal Government report examines the way the scheme operates nationwide has raised serious concerns about equity.

"Overall there is a distinct impression that, if anything, the existing programs have favoured the most privileged students in the Australian community," it found.

Victoria boasts by far the largest programs in the country, with more than 1000 Year 12 students tackling university studies alongside their VCE subjects.

Classes are usually outside school hours on university campuses or at schools that run the program with a university.

Year 12 students are charged a nominal administrative fee, a fraction of the HECS fees paid by university students.

The report found rural students and those from less privileged backgrounds were missing out.

It suggested universities were promoting the scheme at schools at which they were interested m attracting enrolments.

"Many programs have been mounted in response to demands from a particular school or small group of schools, and often these have been prestigious independent schools," the report found.

It said universities would have to broaden their intake if government funding was to continue.

Opposition education spokeswoman Jenny Macklin agreed.

"'Access to university must be based on merit not on sweetheart deals between universities and some privileged schools," she said.

But local universities argue the programs are open to anyone.

Melbourne University spokeswoman Christina Buckridge said more than 400 students from a range of areas and backgrounds took part.

Other cultural issues influenced the participa,.tion rate, she said.

"There is no point offering this at a school where kids are not even interested in going to university," Ms Buckridge said.

More than 70 per cent of the schools running the program in conjunction with Melbourne University are non-government schools.

But principals from several state schools said yesterday qualified students were missing out because having to travel long distances to private schools and campuses made it unfeasible.

Monash University was trying to solve access problems by offering distance education courses, a spokeswoman said.

She said that last week brochures were sent to all secondary schools inviting them to take part.