Financing Tertiary Education: An Evaluation of the Todd Report

Abstract

This article evaluates the proposals in the Report of the Ministerial Consultative Group (MCG) for funding the expected growth in tertiary student enrolments over the next decade. The Report (commonly known as the Todd Report), published in May 1994, was still under active consideration by the Government at the time of writing. After outlining the context in which the Report was prepared, this article summarises the Report’s key policy recommendations and assesses their merits. Particular attention is given to the proposals contained in Option B under which students would be expected to pay 50 percent of their course costs. The article argues that the Report’s failure to provide a clear analytical and philosophical framework gives rise to numerous flaws and inconsistencies in its recommendations. The case for significantly higher fees is considered to have little merit.