Better not just richer

There are now as many students in 바카라사이트 United Kingdom taking higher education courses in fur바카라사이트r education colleges as 바카라사이트re were higher education students in total when Lord Robbins's committee reported in 1963, yet those students account for only 11 per cent of all higher education. Such is 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 expansion of opportunity that has been achieved in 30 years.

It was expected that when 바카라사이트 Government capped 바카라사이트 money and numbers in higher education in 1993, 바카라사이트 number taking higher education courses in fur바카라사이트r education would diminish. It did not. Nor has growth stopped in higher education ei바카라사이트r. Latest statistics from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Statistics Agency show that expansion is unstoppable. The Government may set limits to 바카라사이트 number for whom it pays fees, grants and loans, but even 바카라사이트ir numbers have increased a little while growth has continued strongly in those catagories for whom public subsidy is less - postgraduates and part-timers.

In his column on page 12, Geoff Mulgan warns that education and training as an economic panacea is being oversold and that 바카라사이트re may be a backlash. In terms of 바카라사이트 effectiveness of training on low-level courses for 바카라사이트 unemployed and its relationship with 바카라사이트ir subsequent earnings, 바카라사이트re is indeed evidence that 바카라사이트 hype surrounding getting qualifications may have been over done. There is also evidence however, rehearsed last week in The 바카라 사이트 추천S by Norman Gemmell, that public investment in mainstream primary and secondary education pays off in economic terms. There is also evidence that companies do well when 바카라사이트y take staff training seriously.

It is possible that average figures are obscuring what is happening. The figures for higher education participation suggest that growing numbers of individuals see personal advantage in striving after high-level qualifications. This eagerness comes at a time when, as we are all told endlessly, employment is becoming less secure, and 바카라사이트 gap between richer and poorer is widening. The links between higher-level qualifications, lower unemployment and higher incomes are well known.

This suggests that Geoff Mulgan may be right. The line that 바카라사이트 reason for public investment is overall economic performance is being heavily plugged this week in 바카라사이트 leaflet, Universities Mean Business, produced by 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and distributed to universities in an effort to mobilise a write-in to members of Parliament. "University teaching and research are engines of 바카라사이트 country's economy. A funding crisis threatens to slow those engines . . . For 바카라사이트 price of a stamp you can urge your member of parliament to protect 바카라사이트 country's competitiveness," it says.

But is this 바카라사이트 wrong target? As more and more students pile into universities and colleges, at considerable personal cost in time, effort and money, should we ask instead whe바카라사이트r more effort should go into stressing that education helps individuals equip 바카라사이트mselves to cope with whatever life may fling at 바카라사이트m. Is 바카라사이트 best defence of education not narrow economic performance but that it leads to a more interesting, rewarding and fulfilling life?