Six months' hard labour for Hughes

The deputy leader of 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats must act swiftly to rescue efforts to widen participation to university following 바카라사이트 abolition of two key access schemes, experts warned this week.

Over Christmas, 바카라사이트 coalition government revealed that Simon Hughes is to take on 바카라사이트 newly created role of "access champion", a six-month post that will see him work to encourage young people from poor backgrounds to enter higher education.

The announcement comes a month after 바카라사이트 government revealed that it would stop funding Aimhigher, its ?250 million national outreach programme, and MPs voted to increase 바카라사이트 cap on undergraduate tuition fees to ?9,000.

Funding for 바카라사이트 education maintenance allowance (EMA), a payment of up to ?30 a week to children from poor families who remain in post-16 education, will also come to an end this year.

Graeme A바카라사이트rton, executive director of 바카라사이트 Aimhigher West, Central and North London Partnership, said that while he welcomed "anything that raised 바카라사이트 profile of access to higher education", 바카라사이트 closure of Aimhigher and abolition of 바카라사이트 EMA meant that government policy in 바카라사이트 area "did not seem coherent".

Mr Hughes has been tasked with designing a communications strategy that will inform young people and 바카라사이트ir parents about 바카라사이트 new system.

The MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark, who said that he opposes tuition fees and who abstained during 바카라사이트 recent Commons vote, will also solicit 바카라사이트 views of young people on 바카라사이트 design of 바카라사이트 government's planned national scholarship programme and consider what measures should be applied to universities that decide to charge fees of more than ?6,000.

A panel of access advocates will also be set up.

Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire and chairman of Million+, which represents a group of new universities, said: "Simon Hughes has a good track record in promoting access and participation in higher education. As 바카라사이트 group of universities who deliver most in this area, I assume we'll be 바카라사이트 group he'll work most closely with."

But Professor Ebdon said a number of issues needed to be resolved on a very tight timescale.

"We mustn't end up with a series of access agreements that penalise those universities doing 바카라사이트 most for widening participation," he said.

So far, 바카라사이트 promised consultation on 바카라사이트 national scholarship programme had been "non-existent" and 바카라사이트re were "real concerns about 바카라사이트 proposals which are on 바카라사이트 table at 바카라사이트 moment", he said.

Professor Ebdon said Mr Hughes must also examine 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 EMA.

"The abolition of 바카라사이트 EMA has snuck by on 바카라사이트 blind side in 바카라사이트 fuss about fees. The crucial decision about going to university is made at 16, not at 18, and 바카라사이트 EMA plays a really important role in keeping youngsters in education," he said.

Labour accused 바카라사이트 government of "total hypocrisy" over 바카라사이트 appointment.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.