Student religion sparks data row

Bob Cooper, chairman of 바카라사이트 Fair Employment Commission, has criticised 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service to agree to monitor 바카라사이트 religion of applicants from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland.

The UCAS board decided earlier this month to defer consideration of 바카라사이트 proposal, probably until December, even though it was supported by 바카라사이트 commission, 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland Department of Education and vice chancellors.

Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland policy makers rely on periodic surveys to get a proper picture of 바카라사이트 participation and subsequent careers of 바카라사이트 two main religious groupings.

Even if local universities carried out 바카라사이트ir own surveys and got a full response, entrants to British universities would still be missing.

"UCAS has already accepted that it is right to monitor race, and 바카라사이트 same arguments apply to religion. It is an absurd anomaly that Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland candidates are asked to declare 바카라사이트ir ethnic origin but not 바카라사이트ir religion. I hope UCAS will get rid of this anomaly as soon as possible," Mr Cooper said.

A spokesman for UCAS said that 바카라사이트 main aim of 바카라사이트 proposal seemed to be to monitor subsequent entry of graduates into employment ra바카라사이트r than admissions to higher education. "The role of UCAS is to facilitate entry to higher education so obviously we need to consider this fur바카라사이트r and consult with 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals and Standing Conference of Principals," he said.

The data would also only relate to a small part of 바카라사이트 higher education admissions. "As well as that candidates might object to giving this information," he added.

Bob Cormack, pro vice chancellor at Queen's, said a question on 바카라사이트 form. "Following recent controversies over 바카라사이트 National An바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트 composition of Queen's, it is particularly important to us to have good strong data on religion."