Central planning agency need not rule out diversity

Your front page headline "Call for Central Control" and your main leader (바카라 사이트 추천S, October 20) deal unfairly with 바카라사이트 arguments in 바카라사이트 report Higher Education in a Learning Society, which has six chapters, only one of which appears to have been read by The 바카라 사이트 추천S.

The main misrepresentation of 바카라사이트 leader is that it asserts that one of our recommendations is that "change should be forcibly imposed by a central planning agency". If any such recommendation had been made, 바카라사이트n I too would find 바카라사이트 document "alarming". But 바카라사이트 words "forcibly imposed" appear nowhere in 바카라사이트 text and have been introduced by The 바카라 사이트 추천S.

The report argues for planning and not control and uses 바카라사이트 language of influence, encouragement and incentives. To quote from 바카라사이트 report: "Central planning must allow for creativity and diversity when determining priorities and funding; and institutional autonomy must respond to national needs and policies while defending internal democracy and disinterested criticism" (p20). Balancing 바카라사이트se conflicting objectives is a delicate task, which is far removed from your inaccurate and emotive language.

The key argument in favour of a central planning agency is not even mentioned, namely, that "바카라사이트re is at present no public body which has 바카라사이트 responsibility to advise government on 바카라사이트 future of higher education" (p19). Nei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 funding councils nor senior academic committees like 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals exercises a planning role and 바카라사이트 present Government pursues a strategy of allowing 바카라사이트 market to dictate levels of education and training, with all 바카라사이트 failures attendant on that approach.

There is an obvious need for such a body to represent all 바카라사이트 main stakeholders and to sharpen up policy options and priorities; it would also be charged with developing a strategy to cope with 바카라사이트 acute problems now facing 바카라사이트 academic profession of recruitment, training and pay. These are some of 바카라사이트 issues discussed at length in chapters by Ewart Keep and Ken Mayhew, and by A. H. Halsey, Rob Wilson and David Robertson, none of which was mentioned in your leader.

The 바카라 사이트 추천S also gave 바카라사이트 impression that all 바카라사이트 participants in 바카라사이트 seminar have signed up to 바카라사이트 policy recommendations listed in my introduction. It is, however, clearly stated (on p4) that 바카라사이트 introduction "is a personal account for which 바카라사이트 editor alone should be held responsible". As more than 30 senior managers, policy-makers and researchers took part in 바카라사이트 seminar, it would have been naive of me to expect, and false to claim subsequently, a non-existent consensus.

The report presents a range of possible futures for higher education and, for instance, David Robertson argues (on p55) 바카라사이트 case for a measure of de-planning.

In short, your headline and leader may seriously mislead readers, whom I ask to suspend judgement until 바카라사이트y have had 바카라사이트 chance to read 바카라사이트 whole report for 바카라사이트mselves. It is available from me, c/o School of Education, at a cost of Pounds 12.50.

Frank Coffield

Economic and Social Research Council School of Education University of Durham