" … nothing is more valuable than an educated public".

Unfortunately, universities seem to be churning out a brainwashed public.

May be necessary but, we cannot go down the road to Americanized, for profit, education. Moreover, we need to set limits on foreign students, least they take places Australian children should have. Recent government funding cuts need to be reversed.
Alan B.

we cannot go down the road to Americanized, for profit, education.
Alan B,
The dilemma is how to revert 50 years of just that ? The Goaf started this rot & his disciples have ensured the Peter Principle remains the standard in Govt. administration !

Sack universities, burn their books cried the peasants: Seems nothing has changed since the tenth century!

Dan.

What's actually happening, is that Australia is reintroducing staggering levels of net migration, primarily driven by "students" seeking residence.

As Schwartz does not even mention this, he should not object, if I assume that he's part of the problem, not part of the solution.

We need education at all levels.
It provides us with the know-how to make life easier and far more comfortable.
So, if we can achieve a high level for many, that will be better for us all.
We don't want the majority to think that 'the earth is flat' do we?
It is highly desirable that we have education to at least 'university level'?
In practice, it will go far beyond this.
Time to stop all the small talk, and get around to making sure it happens.
We need to be supportive of any government initiative which aims to achieve this.
Otherwise we will emulate the classic indiscretion of 'fiddling whilst Rome burns'.
After that, society might even forget how to light a fire?
We would say goodbye to ease and comfort.

The most idiotic move was to educate people who couldn't handle the education ! Now we have to deal with their children who are even less comprehending of vital information !
Another Goaf legacy !

The far right always oppose universal education, claiming its a breading ground for leftist ideology. These extremist fear mass knowledge as it facilitates understanding which leads to reasoned judgement on the part of the educated, and a desire for justified change. For them the maintenance of a mostly uneducated society is their key to power over and control of a passive subservient people.

Yes it is different to the 10Th century Diver. The difference is that now we the public are paying for very dumb kids to have a holiday at university, rather than rich fathers paying the bill. This started as a scheme to get jobless kids off the unemployed numbers, & now is perpetuated to keep "C" grade academics in jobs.

We now have thousands of very dumb kids doing pretend degrees. The only use of these degrees is to qualify the holders for a pen pushing non job in the bureaucracy.

The far right always oppose universal education, claiming " its a breading ground for leftist ideology."
Paul1405,
Convince us it isn't so ? Dumbing-down is not education ! Look into the mirror & try to see different !
It's not "the far Right" who opposes dumbing-down, it's people who think & care & are tired of indoctrinated idealists ruing just about everything decent people worked for !
I know this will go way over your head but that's the way it is & it can't be denied as the evidence is all around us !