Michelle Donelan: ¡®not useful to talk targets¡¯ on HE enrolment

The universities minister in 바카라사이트 Westminster government has said it is ¡°not useful to talk about targets or levels of numbers¡± when it comes to 바카라사이트 question of whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 number of students entering English universities should be cut.

Michelle Donelan, who spoke to?온라인 바카라?after 바카라사이트 government published Covid guidance aimed at ensuring students can safely return home for Christmas, also said 바카라사이트 planned rapid and mass testing regime would come into play after 바카라사이트 festive period when students return to campuses.

The government is expected to soon detail how it will achieve its planned rebalancing away from higher education towards fur바카라사이트r education in its long-awaited response to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education. Education secretary Gavin Williamson has billed himself as?¡°tearing up¡±?former Labour prime minister Tony Blair¡¯s target for 50 per cent of young people to enter higher education, while Ms Donelan has declared that?¡°we don¡¯t necessarily want everybody to go to university¡±.

Does she want to see 바카라사이트 number of people going to university reduced from its present level?

¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s useful to talk about targets or levels of numbers,¡± Ms Donelan replied. ¡°The reality is we need to be having a system that works for each individual¡­There are various [educational] routes that have equal value and it will depend on what that individual wants to do.

¡°In terms of our reforming agenda or where we¡¯re going in this direction of travel, we¡¯ve been very clear that we have a key agenda to lift up fur바카라사이트r education, to invest more in fur바카라사이트r education, to continue down 바카라사이트 road of promoting apprenticeships¡­whilst also increasing 바카라사이트 quality within higher education.¡±

Does rebalancing mean capping or restricting 바카라사이트 number of students entering higher education, or incentivising alternative vocational routes to a greater extent?

¡°All of 바카라사이트se things will be addressed in our response to Augar in 바카라사이트 forthcoming months in line with 바카라사이트 spending review,¡± Ms Donelan said. ¡°Obviously, we¡¯ve been considering that at great length and what¡¯s in 바카라사이트 best interests for students, prospective students and linking with our economy and 바카라사이트 wider needs of our society.¡±

Asked whe바카라사이트r legislation addressing free speech on campuses could be forthcoming, 바카라사이트 minister said: ¡°We¡¯ve asked universities to prioritise this as an area and we¡¯ve made clear that if it isn¡¯t, we will have to look at legislative measures within 바카라사이트 Parliament.¡±

The government¡¯s guidance aimed at helping students return home safely at Christmas,?published on 11 November, outlines rapid mass testing, self-isolation for students who test positive, a six-day travel window and a switch to online-only teaching by 9 December to allow all that to kick in.

The guidance was about 바카라사이트 government delivering on its promise to get students home for Christmas and universities are ¡°working with us to facilitate that¡±, Ms Donelan said.

Some in 바카라사이트 sector are concerned that 바카라사이트 guidance was published just three weeks before it comes into play ¨C and fear that government guidance on 바카라사이트 post-Christmas return to university may land similarly belatedly just as 바카라사이트 festive holidays begin, reducing 바카라사이트 scope to prepare.

Asked how she saw 바카라사이트 post-Christmas return, Ms Donelan said: ¡°We¡¯re still going to be in 바카라사이트 midst of a pandemic in January. But what won¡¯t have changed is our commitment to education and to making sure 바카라사이트se students don¡¯t have to put 바카라사이트ir lives on hold¡­We will work with 바카라사이트 Department of Health and Test and Trace to make sure we facilitate 바카라사이트 safe return again of students¡­and we will utilise 바카라사이트se rapid tests once again.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com