The Equity Challenge in Tertiary Education

1. The Equity Challenge in Tertiary Education Jamil Salmi Tertiary Education Coordinator WCHE Paris, 7 July 2009

2. evolution of tertiary education enrollments rates 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1980 1997 2005 High Income Countries Least Developed Countries Sub-Saharan Africa Arab States Latin America and the Caribbean East Asia and Oceania South Asia

5. outline of the presentation • the elusive equity goal • common misconceptions about equity • the equity imperative

6. equality of opportunity The impertinent courtesy of an invitation offered to unwelcome guests, in the certainty that circumstances will prevent them from accepting. Richard Tawney

7. tertiary enrollment per quintile

8. elusive equity Mexico (2005) • only 1% of 15-24 year old from poorest quintile attend tertiary education • 32% from richest quintile • Thailand: • 50% of students from richest quintile • 5% from poorest quintile

9. elusive equity (II) • France: • probability of access to Grande Ecole is 11 times higher for children of professionals than of blue collar worker • 6,000 € per student at university, vs. 20,000 € in preparatory schools • USA: probability to access Ivy League university is 8.3% for lowest quintile and 50% for richest quintile

10. outline of the presentation • the elusive equity goal • common misconceptions about equity

11. free is fair • USP • 84% candidates from public high schools • 30% of new students • in medicine, only 3 out of 180 new entrants • Bolivia • more poor people in fee-paying private institutions than in free public institutions

12. fair is fair • unified entrance examination with objective and transparent selection criteria • Eastern Europe and Central Asia • Chile

13. it’s all about money • institutional barriers • pathways • recognition of various forms of skill acquisition • motivation

14. the dice are cast • Paris • Texas • positive discrimination

15. access means success • obstacles continue to exist after admission • UNICAMP

16. outline of the presentation • the elusive equity goal • common misconceptions about equity • the equity imperative

17. the equity imperative • social justice • loss of talent • Outliers example

18. 8% 2000 14% 78% 4% 1980 9% 87% 2% 14% 1960 84% build the foundations: South Korea and Brazil 26% 55% 2000 18% 9% 1980 49% 42% 3% 1960 17% 80%

19. three policy levers • financial aid to overcome economic barriers

21. Brazil ProUni • State purchases seats in private universities • offered to top students from low-income families who don’t get a seat in a public university • no actual payment to the university, but tax exemption

22. Colombia • “access with equity” (Antioquia) • partnership (local government, private firms and private universities) • low-income students who don’t get a seat in a public university get financial aid to enter a private university (75% scholarship and 25% subsidized loan) • Uniminuto de Dios University • high quality, private institution catering to low-income students in marginal zones

23. three policy levers • financial aid to overcome economic barriers • preferential admission • non-monetary interventions to improve academic readiness and increase motivation

24. conclusion

25. the way forward • detailed data on equity dimensions (household, institutional, national) • assessment of what works and what does not work

26. Everybody is equal. But some are more equal than others. George Orwell