A Voucher System for University Tuition | Masaru Tomita (Dean, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies)
2006.09.28
Let me be blunt.
Tuition at national universities is about half that of private universities, but this is not the result of management efforts; it is simply because a large amount of tax money is unconditionally poured into them. Private universities make various efforts, such as reforming their educational content, to create attractive institutions and attract students. In contrast, national universities take advantage of their low tuition fees to attract students without much effort. I have no objection to using tax money for national universities to handle fields that private universities cannot afford, such as space development. However, aren't most faculties in national universities offering the same content as those in private universities? Nevertheless, I believe it is strange and constitutes unfair competition that tax money is unconditionally invested only in national universities.
Therefore, my proposal is as follows.
National universities (since they have become independent administrative institutions) should raise their tuition to the level of private universities, and the large amount of tax money saved should be used to fund a "university tuition voucher system." These vouchers would be distributed to outstanding high school students and those from low-income families, allowing them to receive a reduction or exemption from tuition fees, regardless of whether they enroll in a national or private university.
From the perspective of national universities that consider themselves "top-tier," most of their students would likely enroll with vouchers, so even if tuition is raised, the situation should effectively remain unchanged. On the other hand, for private universities, this would expand their potential to attract students who previously could not afford to attend for financial reasons. Furthermore, for high school students, this is good news as it broadens their university choices regardless of their economic situation.
I have discussed this idea with several experts. They all respond that it is "a perfectly sound argument and should be implemented," but at the same time, they unanimously agree that "it would be nearly impossible to realize because of the fierce resistance from national university officials." Would it be impossible even for Mr. Abe? If Yukichi Fukuzawa were alive today, I am certain he would have pushed this sound argument through and made it a reality, even at the cost of his life.
(Posted on: 2006/09/28)