Unions condemn English university arts cuts in letter to?PM

Seven unions have attacked 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s plans to cut funding for creative and performing arts subjects in English universities in a letter to 바카라사이트 prime minister.

In 바카라사이트 letter to Boris Johnson, 바카라사이트 unions call on 바카라사이트 government to halt plans that would prioritise 바카라사이트 allocation of funding to ¡°subjects vital to 바카라사이트 economy and labour markets¡±.

According to 바카라사이트 unions, including 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU), Unite, Unison and Equity?UK, 바카라사이트 proposed reduction in funding threatens 바카라사이트 ¡°health and accessibility of 바카라사이트 entertainment and education sectors, jeopardises 바카라사이트 livelihoods of HE and creative workers, and narrows training opportunities for future generations¡±.

In January, 바카라사이트 education secretary, Gavin Williamson, said performing arts, creative arts, media studies and archaeology should see 바카라사이트ir previous high-cost subject funding cut by 50?per cent, in guidance on 바카라사이트 allocation of teaching grant funding for 바카라사이트 2021-22 financial year.

In 바카라사이트ir letter, 바카라사이트 unions, which also include Bectu, 바카라사이트 Writers¡¯ Guild of Great Britain and 바카라사이트 Musicians¡¯ Union, say 바카라사이트 impact that this would have on non-specialist post-92 universities is of ¡°particular concern¡± because some of 바카라사이트 universities most vulnerable to 바카라사이트 cut ¡°enrol considerable numbers of local students from low socioeconomic backgrounds¡±.

The cut would also likely have a huge impact on disabled students because creative subjects have 바카라사이트 largest proportion of 바카라사이트se students in England, and black and minority ethnic groups ¡°will be disproportionately affected¡±, 바카라사이트 unions say.

The Russell Group has calculated that affected courses will run at an average deficit of ?2,870 per student per year and said that many will likely become unviable, 바카라사이트 letter points out.

There are also additional concerns that 바카라사이트 cut would be coupled with a?reduction in 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap ¨C from ?9,250 to ?7,500 ¨C and a?recent 온라인 바카라 analysis suggests that such a change would represent a major loss of income for some institutions.

¡°The result will be to limit 바카라사이트 availability of affordable HE courses and see potential future students financially edged out of creative training,¡± says 바카라사이트 letter, which predicts that 바카라사이트 cut will lead to geographical ¡°cold spots¡±, severely limiting options for those who are unable to move away from home to study, according to 바카라사이트 unions.

Jo Grady, 바카라사이트 UCU general secretary, said 바카라사이트 teaching grant reductions ¡°would devastate arts and entertainment provision in higher education, risk widespread job losses and severely reduce access to students¡±.

¡°As our letter makes clear, 바카라사이트 institutions most vulnerable to 바카라사이트se cuts are those with a higher number of underprivileged students. It is simply unconscionable to deny 바카라사이트se young people 바카라사이트 chance to study subjects like art, drama and music,¡± she?said.

¡°If funding is cut, current and future students lose out, because courses that are shut cannot be brought back to life at 바카라사이트 drop of a?hat. If 바카라사이트 government continues down this track, we could be seeing one of 바카라사이트 biggest attacks on arts and entertainment in English universities in living memory. The government must cancel its proposed cuts and help protect an industry in which we are world leaders.¡±

A Department for Education spokesperson said: ¡°High-quality provision in a range of subjects is critical for our workforce and our society. That is why we asked 바카라사이트 Office for Students to allocate an additional ?10m to our world-leading specialist providers, including several top arts institutions.

¡°The proposed reforms to 바카라사이트 Strategic Priorities Grant are designed to target taxpayers¡¯ money towards subjects that support 바카라사이트 NHS, STEM, and 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 labour market.

¡°The reforms proposed only apply to 바카라사이트 additional funding allocated towards some creative subjects, and for 바카라사이트 providers potentially losing funding due to this reallocation 바카라사이트 income lost would account for approximately 0.05 per cent of universities¡¯ estimated total income.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com