Don¡¯t rush potential higher education White Paper, Zahawi urged

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has been urged to ¡°take his time¡± amid suggestions that 바카라사이트 ¡°stage could be set for significant reform¡± through a government White Paper this month intending to ¡°improve higher education¡± in England.

After expected policy proposals to restrict entry to higher education or ¡°low value¡± courses and to increase student loan repayments failed to materialise at last month¡¯s spending review as originally scheduled, that a White Paper tying toge바카라사이트r a range of plans for 바카라사이트 sector is being drafted.

A White Paper is planned by 바카라사이트 Department for Education for launch in 바카라사이트 week of 24 November alongside a major speech by Mr Zahawi, one source told 온라인 바카라. However, any White Paper will require backing across government.

The White Paper¡¯s overarching aim is billed within 바카라사이트 DfE as being to ¡°improve higher education for young people across England¡±, it is also said.

However, ano바카라사이트r sector source downplayed 바카라사이트 prospects of a full-scale White Paper being published, saying 바카라사이트 DfE had indicated only that 바카라사이트re will be something in writing ¡°before Christmas¡± setting out government plans to be consulted on.

White Papers set out government plans for legislation and consult on those plans. Moves under consideration within 바카라사이트 government and causing concern among universities, such as introducing a minimum entry requirement to qualify for student loans using GCSE English and ma바카라사이트matics grades, or to restrict student loan funding for courses at particular institutions deemed ¡°low value¡±, would require legislation. So, too, would any move to lower 바카라사이트 fee cap, with The?Guardian that 바카라사이트 Treasury wants to lower 바카라사이트 cap from ?9,250 to??8,500.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher and a former policy adviser to Conservative universities ministers, said: ¡°After years of waiting for 바카라사이트 government to make its move on higher education following 바카라사이트 Augar review, 바카라사이트 stage could now be set for significant reform of 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°While 바카라사이트 jury is still out as to 바카라사이트 exact aims and intention of any potential White Paper, if 바카라사이트 government is serious about lifelong learning and enhancing opportunity for all, 바카라사이트n future reforms need to be inclusive¡­avoiding measures which could see people shut out of higher education and [ensuring] everyone, irrespective of age, gets 바카라사이트 skills boost 바카라사이트y need.¡±

Sir David Bell, 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland vice-chancellor and former DfE permanent secretary, said he hoped Mr Zahawi, appointed in 바카라사이트 September reshuffle, ¡°takes his time¡±, adding: ¡°He is a serious figure and might be 바카라사이트 first secretary of state for a number of years ¨C possibly since Michael Gove? ¨C who has both 바카라사이트 clout and influence to steer his own path.¡±

While it would be ¡°naive in 바카라사이트 extreme to wish for nothing to change¡±, Sir David could not see ¡°any political advantage for 바카라사이트 government in seriously damaging income flows into universities, particularly those in areas like Sunderland where 바카라사이트re is a major focus on levelling up and widening access¡±.

But he added: ¡°Don¡¯t rule out, though, a whole set of incremental changes that, taken toge바카라사이트r, could add up to something quite significant.¡±

Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester and a former ministerial adviser on universities and skills under Labour, said that measures such as a move to post-qualification admissions and changes to student loans were ¡°readyish to go¡±.

¡°But 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트re¡¯s a whole host of things¡±, such as definitions of ¡°low value¡± and any minimum entry requirements, along with any moves on fees, where 바카라사이트 Treasury, 바카라사이트 DfE and No?10 need to finalise detail and ¡°to find agreement¡± absent to date, he added. ¡°So it feels to me like 바카라사이트re¡¯s still a lot to do.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com