ABSTRACT
A post-binary structure for higher education must be able to fulfil three conditions. First, it must make it easier to pursue the five basic objectives of the original binary policy. Secondly, it must be designed to eliminate at least some of the flaws in the present binary structure which were identified. Thirdly, it must serve as a moralising metaphor which will help to set a direction and a goal for higher education as successfully as the original binary policy has done. The task for the rest of the 1980s and for the 90s must be to try to express these organising principles in a new, post-binary, structure for higher education. The binary policy has to continue not only to work well as an administrative and financial framework, but also to send out the right kind of message about the future direction of the system.
