XN000022-1987-01-21 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1987

MISUNDERSTANDINGS OVER COMMISSION'S METHODOLOGY POINTED OUT

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THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE TWO AREAS WHERE MISUNDERSTANDINGS OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION'S METHODOLOGY SEEMED TO HAVE OCCURRED.

WINDING UP THE FIRST OF TWO DEBATES ON THE SECOND REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BRIDGE SAID:

+FIRST, THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS THAT ADDITIONAL TOPICS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED BY THE COMMISSION, OR THAT TOPICS WHICH ARE INCLUDED IN THE REPORT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TACKLED IN MORE DETAIL.

+I BELIEVE THAT, IN DECIDING THE NUMBER OF SUBJECTS WHICH CAN BE COVERED BY ONE SINGLE REPORT, WE MUST FIND A BALANCE. REPORT NO. 2 DOES COVER THE MORE COMPLICATED AND FUNDAMENTAL OF THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE 1982 VISITING PANEL WHICH REMAINED OUTSTANDING FROM REPORT NO. 1.

+ BUT THE COMMISSION IS A PERMANENT BODY AND THE FACT THAT A SUBJECT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN REPORT NO. 2 DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT WILL NOT BE COVERED BY THE COMMISSION IN FUTURE.

+ INDEED, THE COMMISSION HAS ALREADY ANNOUNCED ITS PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR REPORT NO. 3 AND HAS BEGUN TO SEEK COMMENTS ON SOME OF THE TOPICS TO BE COVERED IN REPORT NO. 4.+

MR BRIDGE SAID THE SECOND AREA OF CRITICISM IN RELATION TO THE REPORT AS A WHOLE HAD BEEN THAT THE COMMISSION DID NOT CONSULT ADEQUATELY ON SOME SUBJECTS BEFORE PUBLISHING ITS REPORT.

+THERE IS NO TRUTH IN THE SUGGESTION THAT THE VIEWS OF MAJOR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS WERE IGNORED, AS HAS BEEN SUGGESTED RECENTLY IN SOME MEDIA REPORTS,+ HE SAID.

+THE WRITTEN RECORD SHOWS THAT CONSULTATION WITH THE UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION WAS DETAILED AND CONTINUOUS. NOT THAT THE COMMISSION COULD ACCOMMODATE EVERY VIEW PUT FORWARD IN THE END, MEMBERS HAD TO TAKE A VIEW IN THE INTERESTS OF STUDENTS AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE.

+BUT NO MAJOR INSTITUTION CAN FAIRLY CLAIM THAT THE COMMISSION DID NOT TAKE THEIR VIEWS SERIOUSLY OR FAILED, WHENEVER POSSIBLE AND APPROPRIATE, TO ACCOMMODATE THEM,+ HE ADDED.

/MR BRIDGE