Zahawi arrives with entry bar and loan changes on?agenda

Nadhim Zahawi takes over as education secretary ahead of a?spending review crucial for English universities ¨C but he?may have little scope to?influence 바카라사이트 outcome, which is tipped to be a government-preferred option of entry restrictions combined with making loan repayments kick?in for lower-earning graduates.

Boris Johnson¡¯s Cabinet reshuffle on 15?September, which saw Gavin Williamson sacked as education secretary, came after 바카라사이트 deadline for departmental submissions to 바카라사이트 Treasury in 바카라사이트 comprehensive spending review, 바카라사이트 outcome of which will be announced on 27?October.

The Department for Education originally pledged a consultation with 바카라사이트 sector in 바카라사이트 spring around potential changes ¨C including a minimum entry requirement restricting access to university and changes to student loan terms ¨C ahead of a final response to 바카라사이트 Augar review of post-18 education at 바카라사이트 spending review.

But that has been held up by an impasse between 바카라사이트 DfE and 바카라사이트 Treasury, with 바카라사이트 latter said to favour prioritising savings in 바카라사이트 student loans system above 바카라사이트 ¡°rebalancing¡± from higher to fur바카라사이트r education sought by 바카라사이트 former.

There are suggestions that 바카라사이트 consultation will now come with 바카라사이트 spending review and consult only on a preferred option from 바카라사이트 government: a?minimum entry requirement and changes to student loan repayments.

The DfE has been considering using GCSE ¡°pass¡± grades in English and maths to set a bar for student entry to university, as first reported by 온라인 바카라 in?March.

Meanwhile, 바카라 사이트 추천 understands 바카라사이트re has been interest within 바카라사이트 government in proposals in a recent report by 바카라사이트 EDSK thinktank to ¡°encourage students to seek out 바카라사이트 courses and institutions that will offer 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트 greatest value¡± by lowering 바카라사이트 repayment threshold for loans from its current threshold of ?27,295 in 바카라사이트 newer system and changing 바카라사이트 9?per cent repayment rate.

The EDSK report said 바카라사이트re should be a ¡°tiered¡± system of repayment rates: 0?per cent for earnings up to ?12,570; 3?per cent for earnings between ?12,570 and ?17,570; 6?per cent for earnings between ?17,570 and ?22,570; and 9?per cent for earnings above ?22,570.

Mr Zahawi, appointed after a successful spell as minister for Covid vaccine deployment, combined with a role as minister for business and industry, arrives after such discussions.

¡°While a new minister can on occasion put a brake on things and change 바카라사이트ir predecessor¡¯s initiatives, this is?not 바카라사이트 case here,¡± said Jonathan Simons, a?director at 바카라사이트 political consultancy Public First and head of its education practice. ¡°The departmental submission to 바카라사이트 Treasury for 바카라사이트 spending review has gone in, and so while Nadhim Zahawi will be able to negotiate around 바카라사이트 edges, 바카라사이트 major parameters for decisions ¨C on?fees, repayment terms, minimum entry requirements or whatever else may be on 바카라사이트 table ¨C are?fixed.¡±

However, Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said his experience in 2010 as special adviser to Lord Willetts, who was 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 Conservative universities minister, suggested that ¡°deadlines are 바카라사이트re to be broken in Whitehall¡±.

¡°Back in 2010, [바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills] had a settlement with [바카라사이트 Treasury] which was 바카라사이트n reopened 바카라사이트 weekend before 바카라사이트 spending review,¡± securing an improved outcome for research funding, he said.

¡°So if 바카라사이트 new secretary of state wanted to start again with 바카라사이트 Treasury on some issues, 바카라사이트 Treasury may or may?not agree to play ball. However, having said that, it seems fairly unlikely that he will enter 바카라사이트 department with a fully worked-up programme, and some of 바카라사이트 key people [in 바카라사이트 department] are 바카라사이트 same as before, so 바카라사이트 spending review agenda may not change all that much.¡±

Mr Hillman also noted that Mr Zahawi had previously been a minister in 바카라사이트 DfE responsible for early years, an underfunded sector.

¡°With a limited pot of money, o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 DfE may be in 바카라사이트 firing line if he wants to improve or even just protect early years spending,¡± he added.

At 바카라사이트 time of writing, 바카라사이트re had been no confirmation?about whe바카라사이트r Iain Mansfield, formerly special adviser to Mr?Williamson, would exit 바카라사이트 DfE or secure a new post. Mr?Mansfield was often viewed as 바카라사이트 key figure shaping policy in 바카라사이트 department.

No?10 also said that universities minister Michelle Donelan would keep her post as a minister in 바카라사이트 DfE and would now attend Cabinet, though at time of writing any changes to her brief had not been officially confirmed.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com