\ nHoUGiAS oY

cave’ ES
PRIVATIZATION: EDUCATIONAL IMPACT

The present system of publicly funded colleges and institutes is
highly structured and open to public and government scrutiny. The
system charges comparable fees, is generally credit/programme trans-
ferrable and of known quality. The conversion to a private system
will result in a bewildering array of smal] schools among which it
would be very difficult for a student to choose (except by fee alone)
or to transter credit to build a total programme. Training would
exist at the narrowest level as elective and theoretical courses
would be unprofitable. The quality of instruction must be assumed,

at best, to be a difficulty for small, private institutes considering
the high costs of qualified teachers and capital intensive equipment.
Funding for faculty professional development, libraries, counselling
and other support services would be non-existant. The continuation of
the valuable Advisory Committee system would be in doubt.

PRIVATIZATION DECISION: INTERNAL IMPACT

The ability of the Ministry to implement an educational decision

at the College level without negotiation seriously erodes the
institution's autonomy. The authority of the Board to offer programmes
can be transcended by the Minister but in so doing the internal planning
process is devalued. The five-year plan is completely overridden which
puts into question the utility of such an effort.

further, it is not apparent that the Ministry gave thought to the
internal effects of privatization of some courses: are those courses
necessary for support of students in other programmes? i.e. If

typing were transferred to the private sector, would this impact on
students planning a data processing career? Will there be significant
contractual termination costs which would eliminate any immediate savings
to the College? Finally, does the College have any assurance that

there are sufficient and acceptable private institutions in place to

provide the first level training which is prerequisite to the College's

career programmes?