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Caribbean
need to protect its tertiary education sector, says PM
Douglas
Date Posted: June 24, 2008.
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, JUNE 24TH 2008 (CUOPM) - Caribbean
nations are opposed to the full-scale liberalisation or
opening up of the region’s tertiary education sector, which
is seen as a public good and not as an economic or
commercial enterprise.
Speaking at the just concluded Caribbean-New York Conference
last week at which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed
between the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the
Medgar Evers College in New York, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime
Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas noted that the United
States, the lead competitor in the tertiary education sector
and as a member of the WTO, the US has sought “…full
commitments for market access and national treatment in
higher education and training services, for adult education,
and for 'other' education.” The request has been made to all
145 WTO members.
Douglas said given that one significant aspect of the GATS
is non-reciprocity, CARICOM Member States understandably,
are quite cynical about and resistant to this quest by the
USA.
“This is one area that is worthy of further discussion and
cooperation since developed countries such as the USA are
much more competitive in this sector and the domestic
providers such as those in the Caribbean Community are not
ready for an open, market driven environment,” said Dr.
Douglas, the region’s lead spokesman on education.
Dr. Douglas noted that with this trend toward the
liberalisation of higher education, a debate has emerged
concerning whether Tertiary Level Institutions (TLE’s)
should be viewed as a public or a private good.
He said that in their traditional roles, TLIs are perceived
as independent and sometimes critical institutions that
‘preserved and interpreted, and sometimes expanded, the
history and culture of society.’ (Altbach 2001). In this
regard, these TLIs are viewed principally as public goods
and universities as 'places of learning, research, and
service to society through the application of knowledge.
Academia affords a significant degree of insulation from the
pressures of society – academic freedom – precisely because
it serves the broader good of society. Professors are often
given permanent appointment – tenure – to guarantee them
academic freedom in the classroom and laboratory to teach
and do research without fear of sanction from society.' (Altbach
2001)
The St. Kitts and Nevis leader pointed out that many student
leaders and academics have criticized the 'for profit' TLE
agenda, driven by entrepreneurial universities and
multinational service providers.
“They suggest that the concept of the student as a consumer,
and TLE as a product, fails to acknowledge the importance of
education as a social tool and runs counter to the creation
of a knowledge driven society, with democratic, tolerant and
active citizens. There have been calls for universities to
protect the essential role of TLE as a public good, and not
to support its subordination to market forces that will
undermine accessibility and exacerbate social inequalities,”
said Prime Minister Douglas.
