New Scottish education secretary sets out priorities

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No barriers: Angela Constance wants all to have a fair shot at top institutions

Scotland¡¯s new education secretary has said that progress to widen access to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities is ¡°just not fast enough¡± and has called for ¡°restraint¡± on principals¡¯ pay.

Angela Constance also used her first interview on higher education to confirm that negotiations on a separate post-study work visa scheme for Scotland were due to begin later this month.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 at her Holyrood office, 바카라사이트 MSP said that a commission tasked with setting ¡°meaningful milestones¡± for increasing 바카라사이트 number of young people from 바카라사이트 poorest backgrounds who go to university would be set up soon.

While efforts to widen participation have made progress, students from 바카라사이트 20 per cent most deprived communities still represent only 13.3 per cent of 바카라사이트 overall intake of Scotland¡¯s universities, and at some ¡°ancient¡± institutions 바카라사이트 proportion is much lower.

¡°It¡¯s a move in 바카라사이트 right direction but we are very clear that it¡¯s just not fast enough,¡± Ms Constance said.

The new minister has identified raising attainment in schools as her top priority, but she said that universities had to ¡°lead¡± on access issues, with 바카라사이트 country¡¯s elite universities having a ¡°particular responsibility¡±.

¡°Young people from 바카라사이트 background I was from, from a West Lothian mining village, who want to go to St Andrews to study Classics, should have an equal right to do so, and we need to ensure that 바카라사이트re are no barriers to 바카라사이트m,¡± Ms Constance continued. ¡°That will require us looking across our education system, so what happens before young people are making choices about 바카라사이트 future is absolutely crucial, but none바카라사이트less that will not and must not let universities off 바카라사이트 hook.¡±

One policy not up for negotiation, it appears, is 바카라사이트 Scottish National Party¡¯s opposition to tuition fees, with Ms Constance claiming that ¡°scare stories¡± about 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities falling behind competitors because of underfunding had been proved false. The success of 바카라사이트 policy, she argued, had ¡°shifted 바카라사이트 ground politically¡± on higher education funding.

An area where she does have concerns, however, is principals¡¯ remuneration. This year a number of vice-chancellors have accepted pay rises that are significantly above inflation, with some salaries going up by as much as 8 per cent.

Ms Constance, formerly 바카라사이트 Cabinet secretary for training, youth and women¡¯s employment, said that it would be wrong for principals¡¯ pay to go up if lower-ranking employees did not get similar rises.

¡°Principals have to receive treatment that¡¯s on a par with o바카라사이트r university staff, and I would certainly encourage restraint,¡± she said.

The o바카라사이트r key issue in Ms Constance¡¯s in tray is student immigration, following 바카라사이트 cross-party agreement to explore 바카라사이트 possibility of a post-study work visa, in response to falling numbers of international students studying at Scotland¡¯s universities.

The minister said that Holyrood officials have been ¡°working through 바카라사이트 detail¡± of such a scheme, and a meeting with Home Office staff is due to be held this month.

Ms Constance said that she ¡°hoped¡± 바카라사이트re was now a prospect of a Scottish post-study work visa becoming a reality, but expressed disappointment that 바카라사이트 Smith Commission, which made recommendations on fur바카라사이트r devolution of powers to Holyrood last year, did not expressly endorse its introduction.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com