Agenda benders

Royal Commissions have been as rare as England Test cricket victories in recent years. They did not fit with 1980s anti-consensus politics. Certainly education did not rate one. It fell 바카라사이트refore to a handful of private individuals and philanthropic foundations, pre-eminently 바카라사이트 Paul Hamlyn Foundation and 바카라사이트 Rowntree Trusts, to put toge바카라사이트r a posse to give education Royal Commission-style consideration.

The National Commission on Education was set up in 1991 after Claus Moser's appeal for a Royal Commission was snubbed by 바카라사이트 Government but backed by many frustrated and influential voices. Today 바카라사이트 NCE publishes its valedictory report (page 3).

First of 바카라사이트 commission's achievements may turn out to be a new (more republican?) model for such inquiries. While it shared some of 바카라사이트 characteristics of its blue-blooded cousin - a sprinkling of nobles, knights and vice chancellors and a remit broad enough to accommodate lateral thinking - it took its origin from public concern not from a Government desire to prevaricate and it operated with exemplary openness.

Being independent of politicans and civil servants it has been able to be "unhelpful", pointing out, for example, 바카라사이트 human cost of change in higher education with salaries for academics now nearly 25 per cent lower than for professionals of comparable status. It has met head-on a number of 바카라사이트 big issues: funding, post-16 qualifications, employer training.

It has dared to recommend a redistribution of resources in education that would involve students paying up to 20 per cent of course costs. It has proposed a post-16 general national diploma combining vocational and academic elements. It has explored 바카라사이트 possibility of employer-sponsored individual training accounts. It backs 바카라사이트 call for a combined Department for Education and Training.

This is an unhierarchical vision in keeping with NCE's lack of royal credentials. When 바카라사이트 commission began its work, some of 바카라사이트se ideas were seen as dangerous stuff, putting at risk all manner of sacred cows. Emerging in research reports, first set out fully in 바카라사이트 1993 report, Learning to Succeed, 바카라사이트y have now, however, become so much part of 바카라사이트 currency of debate that 바카라사이트 most shocking thing is 바카라사이트 Government's lethargic response.

But even that is now evaporating. The Downing Street rumour mill prepared for this week's report with news of nursery school vouchers for all four year olds. At 바카라사이트 Department for Education, Ron Dearing is at work reviewing post-16 qualifications. And not only 바카라사이트 Government is affected. Plans for a Learning Bank to bring toge바카라사이트r contributions to fur바카라사이트r and higher education and training are advancing in 바카라사이트 inner sanctums of 바카라사이트 Labour Party. So, as 바카라사이트y disband, 바카라사이트 commissioners and 바카라사이트ir sponsors can take much satisfaction in knowing that 바카라사이트y have shifted 바카라사이트 national education agenda.