Privatization of High Education in Canada: A case study of the University of Toronto.

Privatization of High Education in Canada: A case study of the University of Toronto.

Introduction

Privatization of Higher in Canada is the most noticeable consequence of ambitious transformations in education that has dramatically changed the state role of education financing and regulation.

The Higher Learning institutions in Canada have faced cut in funds, thus leading to the privatization of education in these learning institutions. The University of Toronto has been among the learning institutions that have been forced to privatize education.

In the University of Toronto, privatization is a policy that brings the risk of undermining equity in education and whose benefits have not been thoroughly tested.

The sharp and significant reduction in public education funding has led to a rise in tuition fees because the institution has been forced to diversify its funding sources. This issue of privatization consequently has led to demonstrations by students demanding improved services, program and policy changes, and increased material supports (Ratcliffe, 2018).

Privatization has altered and disrupted the core mission of a Higher Learning institution. It puts emphasis on inequality and increases the gulf between the elite and the poor masses. Institution ends up putting more emphasis on profit and operates on the market and commerce principle (Davidson-Harden & Majhanovich, 2017). Privatization in the University favors complete marketization of higher education; thus, it goes against the constitutional duty enhancing equity in education.

Literature review

Some of the studies on the effect of privatization that have been conducted include:

According to Voice article published in2019, the cut in the financing of universities’ and colleges’ funding automatically opens doors for the privatization of these higher learning institutions. The author argues that one reason why universities like the University of Toronto is pursuing the privatization way is due to the fund cuts. The newspaper article is intended to ensuring that the general public is informed about the imminent cuts in higher education funds.  The stand of the author concerning the subject is that the fund cuts certainly harm higher education institutions, which makes them go the privatization way.

A study conducted by Ratcliffe in 2018 talks about how students all over the world lament about their governments cutting down the higher education funds.  The learners claim that the raised tuition and other fees charged do not contribute to increased quality in the education they are offered. Privatization, on the contrary, destroys the education quality by resulting in weakening physical plant, moderated library holdings, and increased numbers in classes.  In terms of specialization areas and courses offered, students have reduced choices. Privatization furthermore reduces students’ access to professors and innovative knowledge, as researchers engaged in leading-edge research are frequently unrestrained from their teaching duties or are incapable or reluctant to reveal the details of their study till it is converted into private possessions. The author further talks about the students’ demonstrations that took place at the University of Toronto to prove that privatization affects the students negatively.

According to Polster 2016, the privatization of the University of Toronto does not affect only the students but the citizens as well.  The privatization of the institution has harmed the citizens in numerous ways. They are affected in that they use in addition to the benefits of the resources are controlled by private interests. On the other hand, the citizens are responsible for the payment of the university costs. The needs of the other groups that are not part of the business community and are not in a position to sponsor their academic research such as the underprivileged, aboriginal individuals, women, and peasants cannot be easily be met. This is because the capability and will of both academics and university supervisors are reduced by privatization. Additionally, these groups might not access research that can be of help to them because privatization makes more of the knowledge that is produced in the institutions to be converted into reserved academic property.

Conclusion

Privatization of Higher Education in Canadian institutions such as the University of Toronto results in funds cut faced by these institutions. Privatization negatively affects the students as well as the citizens.  The citizens and students can reverse and resist the issues collectively. The Canadians can demand to have more significant input in the decision making processes of the university via greater inclusion in a number of advice-giving activities (Davidson-Harden & Majhanovich, 2017). The problem of privatization should be handled at all costs because it affects the students directly, who are the main participants in Higher Education.

Bibliography

Polster, C. (2016). Privatizing Canada’s Public Universities. Canadian Dimension. https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/privatizing-canadas-public-universities-claire-polster

Davidson-Harden, A., & Majhanovich, S. (2017). Privatization in Education in Canada: A Survey of Trends. Decentralization and Privatisation in Education, 50(3/4), 31-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-3358-2_2

Ratcliffe, R. (2018, September 24). University Protests Around the World: a Fight Against Commercialisation. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/higher-education-network/2015/mar/25/university-protests-around-the-world-a-fight-against-commercialisation

Voice, P. (2019, January 31). Ontario Government Cuts University Funding Opens the door to privatization. People’s World. https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/ontario-government-cuts-university-funding-opens-door-to-privatization/