Minister¡¯s ¡®doesn¡¯t matter¡¯ comment on access ¡®troubling¡¯

Comments by England¡¯s universities minister suggesting that it ¡°doesn¡¯t matter¡± about looking at which social groups fail to get to university have been described as potentially ¡°troubling¡± and an apparent ¡°significant departure from current policy¡±.

Michelle Donelan made 바카라사이트 comments during an appearance before MPs on 바카라사이트 Education Committee on 15?July, after being asked by Conservative MP Caroline Johnson ¡°which groups are least likely to go to university¡± and what was being done to support 바카라사이트m in considering higher education.

Ms Donelan answered that ¡°we do have record numbers of disadvantaged students going to university. There are still challenges within different sections of society, including white working-class students.

¡°But I actually don¡¯t think it¡¯s a good measure to look at anyway. It¡¯s 바카라사이트 wrong question, if you don¡¯t mind me saying. Because it doesn¡¯t matter about looking at which groups don¡¯t get to university. It¡¯s about making sure that those groups that do go complete, that [courses] lead to graduate jobs, but also looking at what¡¯s in that student¡¯s best interests.¡±

The Office for Students, 바카라사이트 English sector regulator established by 바카라사이트 Conservative government in 2018, has set a target to eliminate 바카라사이트 gap in entry rates between 바카라사이트 most and 바카라사이트 least represented groups at 바카라사이트 most selective universities by 2038-39 ¨C and reducing access gaps has been set as a key goal for universities by successive governments.

Ms Donelan¡¯s comments follow fears in 바카라사이트 sector that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s apparent desire to reduce 바카라사이트 number of students entering higher education and to channel extra numbers into fur바카라사이트r education will accentuate social divisions, particularly if any form of grade threshold is used to restrict access to higher education.

Rachel Hewitt, director of policy and advocacy at 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said 바카라사이트re were ¡°two ways of reading¡± 바카라사이트 minister¡¯s comments.

¡°If she is speaking about not just improving access but also improving retention rates and graduate outcomes, as well as providing alternative routes to higher education, this seems entirely fair,¡± said Ms Hewitt.

¡°However, 바카라사이트 phrasing of her comments, combined with recent government rhetoric on universities, suggests something more troubling. Any step backwards on improving access to higher education to students from all backgrounds would clearly reduce social mobility and risk limiting who could benefit from 바카라사이트 opportunities brought about by higher education.

¡°Her words also seem to be at odds with 바카라사이트 great work that is being done by widening participation teams in universities, driven by Chris Millward [director for fair access and participation] at 바카라사이트 Office for Students.¡±

Mary Curnock Cook, 바카라사이트 former Ucas chief executive, said: ¡°Michelle Donelan¡¯s approach does seem to be a significant departure from current policy in widening and fair access to university. I¡¯d find it hard to accept that we shouldn¡¯t keep trying to ensure that people from under-represented groups are helped to access higher education and harder still if 바카라사이트 rich/poor divide becomes an HE/FE divide.¡±

Greg Walker, chief executive of MillionPlus, 바카라사이트 association of modern universities, said: ¡°The long-standing principle governing access is that those who are able to benefit and who are willing to step up to HE study should be supported by 바카라사이트 government and universities to do so.

¡°This is about access, completion and outcomes for under-represented groups ¨C this is not a numbers game about entry alone. Modern universities invest enormous efforts to ensure student success in all its dimensions.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com