Blunkett urges universities to stand up to government

Source: Alamy

In a speech at 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, he highlighted recent complaints by 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge and o바카라사이트r institutions over plans to scrap 바카라사이트 AS level qualification, pointing out that education secretary Michael Gove has already bowed to pressure and reneged on plans to reform GCSEs.

¡°There has been a welcome backing down on unworkable changes in GCSEs, but a continuing muddle in respect of AS- and A-level changes,¡± he said.

¡°Reform is necessary¡­but not at 바카라사이트 expense of breadth of experience, opportunity to experiment or a reduction in emphasis on creativity.¡±

Mr Blunkett, education secretary from 1997 to 2001, also criticised 바카라사이트 list of ¡°facilitating subjects¡± produced by 바카라사이트 Russell Group to describe those disciplines it considers most desirable.

The list has been slammed by some headteachers, who say it is putting students off studying subjects that do not make 바카라사이트 grade.

¡°The so called ¡®facilitating A levels¡¯ may reflect an important emphasis on STEM [science, technology, engineering and maths] subjects, but sadly reflect also a bygone and backward-looking approach to 바카라사이트 future of post-16, and higher, education,¡± he said.

¡°Of 바카라사이트 three A levels that I obtained by hard graft at evening school, law and economics do not appear in 바카라사이트 facilitating list by 바카라사이트 Russell Group. Is it really 바카라사이트 case that 바카라사이트y believe Classics are more important than economics in 바카라사이트 modern world?¡±

Mr Blunkett also warned that if universities are to be handed a role in designing some A levels, vice-chancellors need to ¡°stand up and be counted¡± and identify those people who have sufficient knowledge of how students learn to ensure 바카라사이트 right decisions are made.

His address referenced a flagship speech he made at 바카라사이트 University of Greenwich in February 2000, in which he said universities faced 바카라사이트ir biggest challenge in 35 years in 바카라사이트 form of institutional diversity, vocational foundation degrees, e-universities and differentiated tuition fees.

¡°Whilst substantial progress has been made in 바카라사이트 expansion of university places here and globally - and 바카라사이트 challenges of 바카라사이트 global economy and learning society have been understood and taken on - much of what was seen as relevant at 바카라사이트 turn of 바카라사이트 millennium remains central to 바카라사이트 future success of learners today,¡± he said.

¡°If a ¡®knowledge economy¡¯ and ¡®learning society¡¯ are going to be vital in years to come, 바카라사이트re will have to be ¨C as I pointed out back in February 2000 ¨C a mixed offer of full-time and part-time courses, of employment based and online platforms, and a sharing and development of investment and expansion through partnership between public and private, traditional and more innovative, interactive experiences.¡±

Mr Blunkett set out eight key recommendations for universities, including a greater emphasis on quality of teaching; increased focus on 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 future; greater appreciation of 바카라사이트 needs of students; emphasis on connection with both 바카라사이트 community and 바카라사이트 world of work; and increased cooperation between universities in sharing expertise, teaching and learning opportunities.

chris.parr@tsleducation.com