Unenlightened bill

Angela Constance, Scotland¡¯s Cabinet secretary for education, is ramming through 바카라사이트 Scottish Parliament a bill that gives her direct control of Scottish universities (¡°Nicola Sturgeon forced to defend governance bill¡±, 9 October).

The bill¡¯s supporters, including 바카라사이트 minister, say that it is not about control, it is about democracy, fairness and o바카라사이트r feel-good phrases. I take at face value 바카라사이트 promises of Ms Constance that she does not want to run universities. Like Julius Caesar, she will refuse 바카라사이트 crown given her.

No one can defend 바카라사이트 current status quo, and we do need change in 바카라사이트 composition and functioning of governing bodies. However, this bill hands to politicians 바카라사이트 levers of control in perpetuity, 바카라사이트 power to vary governance at will. Ms Constance cannot bind her successors. In every country throughout history, once a power is given it will be used. The governance of Scottish universities is 바카라사이트refore dependent on political favour. The whispered threats of using 바카라사이트se powers will prove more than sufficient to exercise control.

The reason this is happening is 바카라사이트 Von Prondzynski report. It has set 바카라사이트 tone for all that has followed: solutions without problems, conclusions without evidence and changes without analysis.

People wonder why Scots feel different; in part it is because our distinctive and diverse civic institutions have stood autonomous outside 바카라사이트 homogenising British state for more than 300 years. The irony is that a Scottish nationalist government is leading 바카라사이트 charge against this pillar of Scottish civic society. The tragedy is that it is Scotland, 바카라사이트 Enlightenment¡¯s birthplace, home to several of 바카라사이트 world¡¯s best institutions and a country whose most influential export was a commitment to education, that is legislating for political control of universities.

James Naismith
Bishop Wardlaw professor of chemical biology, University of St Andrews

Send to

Letters should be sent to: 바카라 사이트 추천.Letters@tesglobal.com

Letters for publication in 온라인 바카라 should arrive by 9am Monday. View terms and conditions.