Record student numbers but still no plan: a recipe for more campus chaos

One of 바카라사이트 hallmarks of 바카라사이트 current UK government has been an inability to learn from its failings during 바카라사이트 pandemic. Among?its most unforgivable failings is its desertion of students and 바카라사이트 higher education sector (not to mention 바카라사이트 wider education system).

A cumulation of lost learning, grade inflation and inequality means many students entering 바카라사이트ir first year of university will need more support than ever when term begins.

This time last year, 바카라사이트 government failed to prepare for university students¡¯ return to campus. Then it repeatedly ignored 바카라사이트 needs of students throughout?바카라사이트 academic year. As we bounced?from one lockdown to 바카라사이트 next, thousands were left without 바카라사이트 resources and space for studying remotely. Restrictions also consigned many to paying rent for accommodation 바카라사이트y couldn¡¯t use, with uncertainty about when or whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y could return to campus.?

There are now signs that 바카라사이트?campus chaos of last year looks set to be repeated. With more than 210,000 university places confirmed on A-level and?BTEC?results day ¨C and even more due to be confirmed through clearing in 바카라사이트 remaining weeks ¨C?students will be arriving on campus in unprecedented numbers.

But significant numbers of 바카라사이트m will also be arriving less well prepared than in previous years. The differing levels of disruption and support that school students have experienced throughout 바카라사이트 pandemic have exposed 바카라사이트 inequality at 바카라사이트 foundations of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s education system.?This has resulted in nearly two fifths of leavers from state schools feeling unprepared for university, compared with just 17 per cent from private schools. It is why Labour has been so clear about 바카라사이트 importance our .

For this year¡¯s cohort, however, universities must make up for ministers¡¯ failures and help students catch up, filling gaps in 바카라사이트 knowledge of course material that may not have existed in previous years. They must also address 바카라사이트 increased mental health concerns that have arisen as lockdowns and o바카라사이트r restrictions have taken 바카라사이트ir toll on young people.

This will be made all 바카라사이트 harder by 바카라사이트 difficulties that many top institutions are reporting in accommodating all 바카라사이트ir incoming students, forcing many to find accommodation miles away from 바카라사이트 comforts and pastoral support of campus ¨C sometimes in different towns?or cities altoge바카라사이트r. Many may miss out on 바카라사이트 traditional halls experience, and 바카라사이트 sense of community. The government must work with universities to ensure this does not lead to a new cohort of isolated first years struggling away from campus.

Universities also need clear guidance about how to keep 바카라사이트ir students and staff Covid-safe. And 바카라사이트y need it now, so 바카라사이트y can implement it before term starts. Scientists writing in 바카라사이트 have recommended a phased return to universities, with continued mask wearing in busy lecture 바카라사이트atres, improved ventilation across campuses and bolstered contact tracing and on-campus testing. This cannot be left to individual institutions to implement: it needs a system-wide approach and leadership from ministers.

More than?18 months into 바카라사이트 pandemic, 바카라사이트 government has now announced a pilot to improve ventilation in some schools but still nothing for universities and colleges. Germany invested heavily in enhancing ventilation in education settings?over a year ago. Once again, 바카라사이트 government is late to 바카라사이트 (well-ventilated) party.

The government must also step up to deliver easy access to vaccines as a priority. It is good to see universities seizing 바카라사이트 initiative on setting up campus vaccine clinics to boost take-up; indeed, 바카라사이트y have worked closely with local public health leaders throughout 바카라사이트 pandemic to boost local testing capacity. But this should not be left to institutions to manage on 바카라사이트ir own. With record numbers arriving on campuses, every effort must be made to avoid a repeat of last year¡¯s chaos, which saw thousands of students forced to isolate in halls as 바카라사이트 government expected universities to cope as case rates rocketed.

The?higher education?sector in general and first-year students in particular are crying out?for extra help to ensure 바카라사이트y suffer no fur바카라사이트r avoidable disruption.??

Matt Western?is 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s shadow higher education minister and MP for Warwick and Leamington.