Education as "a commodity and industry" (1 Viewer)

[Stott Despoja]

Unis face legal challenges from students
By Debra Jopson
June 6, 2005


A former student of the private Bond University has called for the Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, to introduce a mandatory code of conduct under the Trade Practices Act recognising higher education as "a commodity and industry".

Under the user-pays system, students were clearly consumers, John Orr, a Brisbane playwright, argued in a submission to Mr Costello.

A mandatory code of conduct would mean students claiming consumer rights breaches would not have to bear the cost or the stress of litigation against universities because the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission could more easily take action, Mr Orr told the Herald...

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National...s-from-students/2005/06/05/1117910189982.html

Even though it is clear that education in general is increasingly becoming a commodity and an industry, do you think that this is something that is of minimal consequence? Is it a commodity to traded and sold off to the highest bidder (with 'equitable' access schemes in place, you would assume)?