Press Release: Government climb down on second chance education
Bill Rammell, Minister for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, has today announced a partial climb down on funding for second chance (ELQ) students.
Shadow Innovation, Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts, said:
“The edifice is beginning to crumble. Ministers are now in retreat.
“It is good that the Government is finally abandoning its aggressive defence of these cuts for second chance students. But there is still more to do.”
Notes to Editors
1. In September 2007, without any prior consultation, the Government announced a cut of £100m for students on courses that are equivalent or lower than qualifications they already hold (ELQs) - http://www.hefce.ac.uk/news/hefce/2007/HEFCE_letterELQ.pdf.
2. Today, Bill Rammell told the Innovation, Universities and Skills Select Committee that the Government would recommend the following concessions to Hefce (the Higher Education Funding Council for England):
I. The part-time premium will be increased by £30m (not £20m planned).
II. An annual review of the list of exempt subjects (from December 2008).
III. An immediate review for courses (e.g. theology) that are linked to religious ministry.
3. An Opposition Day debate on the funding cut was held in the House of Commons on 8th January 2008. David Willetts said, “I hope that tonight we will get a significant change of position from the Government … This is a fundamental change in the way in which higher education is financed in this country and it should be reviewed as a whole. … We do not want to live in a country where, if at first you don’t succeed, you don’t succeed.’ (Hansard, 8th January 2008, cols.229-230)