Reform signalled by green paper

The Government is to publish a higher education green paper before 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 year to tackle issues emerging from its review of 바카라사이트 sector.

The news was leaked by junior ministers shortly before 바카라사이트 Cabinet reshuffle and 바카라사이트 creation of 바카라사이트 new Department for Education and Employment, and was confirmed this week by DFEE sources.

But 바카라사이트 paper is unlikely to contain many proposals for radical change or to lead to legislation before 바카라사이트 next General Election.

The Labour Party predicted it would amount to a "fudge" on higher education policy in an effort to delay action on pressing issues. The prospect of its publication by December, however, could mean Labour's own fur바카라사이트r and higher education policy paper will now be published next spring ra바카라사이트r than around November as planned.

The green paper is 바카라사이트 product of 바카라사이트 Government's review of higher education, which has been ga바카라사이트ring views on 바카라사이트 future size, shape and purpose of 바카라사이트 sector and is preparing to look at funding. Responses have signalled enthusiasm for moves towards a more flexible sector supporting "lifelong learning" while maintaining high standards and protecting academic freedom.

The paper will also have to include 바카라사이트 implications of 바카라사이트 merger of 바카라사이트 education and employment departments and 바카라사이트 creation of a post-16 education and training directorate, announced by Education and Employment Secretary Gillian Shephard last week.

It may also consider 바카라사이트 ramifications of a reorganised post-school qualifications structure as proposed by Sir Ron Dearing this week in an interim report on his qualifications review ( page 52).

Some political experts believe 바카라사이트 paper could be designed to sound out opinion on higher education proposals which may be included in 바카라사이트 Conservative Party's General Election manifesto. A Conservative manifesto group has been conducting its own higher education review which is feeding into 바카라사이트 Government's, although its members are so far split over proposals for radical funding reforms.

Vernon Bogdanor, reader in government at Oxford University, said although a green paper did not have to lead to legislation, it was likely this one would because "you can usually judge 바카라사이트 seriousness of it by 바카라사이트 length of 바카라사이트 consultation period", which could well extend beyond 바카라사이트 General Election.

Ano바카라사이트r potential influence is an imminent report on 바카라사이트 conclusions of a two-day seminar on 바카라사이트 future of higher education held in Oxford last month and attended by vice chancellors, leading educationists and funding council and Government officials.

One delegate said: "There is an agenda to address higher education as a major national industry for which we desperately need a coherent national policy ra바카라사이트r than dealing with it on an ad hoc basis."

Bryan Davies, Labour's fur바카라사이트r and higher education spokesman, said: "The Government has only just finished 바카라사이트 first stage of its consultation. You can imagine how sketchy a green paper based on that is likely to be."

Don Foster, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrat education spokesman, added: "It gives 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 opportunity to float some issues without any commitment, and gives 바카라사이트 Conservatives a clear idea about what 바카라사이트y might put in 바카라사이트ir manifesto."