[PEN-L:11690] WTO meetings

[phillp2@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

In parallel with the recent thread on the IMF, WB and other
international agenies advancing US imperialism, the following
appeared in the Can Assn of Univ Teachers Newspaper, "The
Bulletin" in the latest edition.

New Trade Rules Target Education

CAUT Bulletin,
September 1999

Education unions and associations are warning that new rules being
considered by the World Trade Organization will lead to the further
subordination of post -secondary education to the dictates of private
corporations.
	Critics are pointing to a document prepared by the WTO in the run-
up to next year's millennium round of negotiations which identifies post-
secondary education as a potentially lucrative new market ripe for
exploitation.
	Citing with praise the growth of branch campuses, "virtual edu
cation" and the international marketing of curricula and academic
programs, the WTO paper notes that trade in post-secondary education
services has exploded in recent years. In 1996 alone, US exports of higher
education services reached $7 billion, making it the country's fifth largest
service sector export.
	Nevertheless, the WTO argues that the continued growth of this
market is being hampered by a number of so-called barriers to trade in the
sector. Private companies seeking to establish a commercial presence
abroad may be restricted by limitations in many countries on the
operation of private universities and colleges. Where private institutions
are permitted, the WTO maintains they may still face other barriers. In
some nations, students enrolled in private universities and colleges may
not qualify for financial assistance or even, according to the WTO,
subsidized bus passes.
	The paper asserts that these regulations not only constitute re
strictive trade practices, but also prevent "innovation" within  uni
versities and colleges. The WTO praises a number of nations for moving
toward "greater market responsiveness" and "corporatization" of public
universities which "increase competition and encourage investor and
corporate participation in the education sector."
	"There is a lot of pressure mounting to open up post-secondary
education in Canada and other countries to increased privatization and
commercialization," said CAUT executive director Jim Turk. "That
clashes head-on with those of us committed to quality publicly-funded
education."
	Education International, representing 294 educational unions  and
associations worldwide, is also expressing concern about the WTO
initiative."Given the existence of huge disparities between countries, is
the idea of placing national education systems in a competitive situation
not tantamount to selling out the education system in the weakest
countries to a handful bf large transnational corporations?" El asked in
response to the WTO discussion paper.
	El notes that the import of higher education services by South-East
Asia gives some idea of the harmful consequences which trade
liberalization will have: "increased dependence on foreign educational
resources, acculturation caused by the use of a foreign language for
teaching, a tendency to the standardization of education, and a
curtailment of sovereignty."
	WTO members, including Canada, are to meet in Seattle in
November.