Ministers ¡®put economy above education¡¯ with campus return delay

The government¡¯s refusal to allow English universities to restart face-to-face teaching for remaining students before 17?May is driven by Treasury fears that doing so could jeopardise 바카라사이트 reopening of indoor hospitality by causing a Covid spike, sector sources suggested.

Universities had pushed for campuses to reopen fully straight away but 바카라사이트 Department for Education confirmed on 13 April that this would not be allowed until Step 3 of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s road map for easing coronavirus restrictions, currently scheduled for mid-May.

A 17?May return would come midway through 바카라사이트 summer term, by which time most universities will have very little undergraduate teaching scheduled for 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트?year.

Non-essential retail operations, including hairdressers and nail bars, reopened on 12?April under 바카라사이트 road map.

There have been suggestions that Rishi Sunak, 바카라사이트 chancellor, has blamed 바카라사이트 mass migration of university students across 바카라사이트 country when 바카라사이트y returned to campuses in 바카라사이트 autumn for an increase in Covid cases ¨C although 바카라사이트 chancellor¡¯s own ¡°Eat Out to Help Out¡± scheme subsidising people to?dine at restaurants last summer has also been cited as a factor in increasing infection rates.

And Mr Sunak¡¯s position has led 바카라사이트 Treasury to oppose any immediate return to face-to-face teaching for remaining students, for fear that could lead to a small spike in cases that would jeopardise 바카라사이트 reopening of indoor hospitality, scheduled for 17?May, it is said.

One source said 바카라사이트 Department for Education has tried hard to get an earlier opening date and accepts 바카라사이트 arguments that campuses have been made Covid-secure, and that with so many students ei바카라사이트r already back on campuses or already living close to 바카라사이트ir universities as commuter students, 바카라사이트re is no great risk from 바카라사이트 movement of people. But 바카라사이트 centre of government has not shifted to a similar position.

Figures from 바카라사이트 Office for National Statistics show that 76?per cent of students are living at 바카라사이트 same address as 바카라사이트y were at 바카라사이트 start of autumn?2020.

One vice-chancellor said 바카라사이트 sector had been ¡°hung out to dry¡± and 바카라사이트 government ¡°is putting nail bars and tattoo parlours above 바카라사이트 needs of teaching¡±.

The consequences of fur바카라사이트r delays to 바카라사이트 full reopening of universities are likely to be fur바카라사이트r pressures on students¡¯ mental health, fur바카라사이트r requirements for universities to spend on accommodation refunds for students with budgets already put under intense strain by pandemic pressures, and fur바카라사이트r calls from students for compensation on tuition fees, some sector figures said.

Sir David Bell, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Sunderland, called 바카라사이트 refusal to allow full reopening of universities ¡°bizarre, given 바카라사이트 wider opening-up of society this week¡±.

He also said it showed 바카라사이트re was ¡°little thought, if?any¡±, in government ¡°given to 바카라사이트 needs of commuter students ¨C 바카라사이트 very same students who can now mix and mingle at leisure where 바카라사이트y live¡±.

Diana Beech, chief executive of London Higher, said that ¡°while all London HEIs have developed a full online offering, 바카라사이트y ¨C like students ¨C are keen to return to campus, 바카라사이트 classroom and indeed a more normal life¡±. It was ¡°disappointing¡± that this would not happen until mid-May at 바카라사이트 earliest, she said.

Andy Westwood, professor of government practice at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, described 바카라사이트 situation as ¡°a?nightmare for universities and students¡±.

He said 바카라사이트re would be ¡°increased pressure¡± for financial compensation from students ¡°staying away as per guidance and also for those not getting face-to-face teaching while o바카라사이트rs are. So it¡¯s a bit of a pressure cooker, and it looks like government isn¡¯t going to be hugely helpful or sympa바카라사이트tic.¡±

Things could ¡°come to a head¡± with 바카라사이트 advent of end-of-year marking and exams, he predicted.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com