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Degree funding switch criticised Degree funding switch criticised
(5 days later)
MPs scrutinising higher education say they cannot support the government's cut in funding for people taking second undergraduate degrees in England.MPs scrutinising higher education say they cannot support the government's cut in funding for people taking second undergraduate degrees in England.
The Commons innovation, universities, science and skills committee said the decision appeared to have been hasty.The Commons innovation, universities, science and skills committee said the decision appeared to have been hasty.
It said switching funding to those taking first degrees was premature and was not based on hard evidence of its likely effectiveness.It said switching funding to those taking first degrees was premature and was not based on hard evidence of its likely effectiveness.
The government said it believed the policy was the right one.The government said it believed the policy was the right one.
But the cross-party committee's report, Withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower level qualifications (ELQs), is critical of almost every aspect of the move.But the cross-party committee's report, Withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower level qualifications (ELQs), is critical of almost every aspect of the move.
PrioritiesPriorities
Ministers decided last September to withdraw Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) support for ELQ students from 2008-09. They ran into widespread opposition.Ministers decided last September to withdraw Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) support for ELQ students from 2008-09. They ran into widespread opposition.
Without due analysis and evidence of the likely effectiveness and impact of the change, we cannot support the decision to cut funding Select committee report The MPs' report said the change would increase substantially the fees ELQ students would have to pay, if the full cost were passed on to them. Without due analysis and evidence of the likely effectiveness and impact of the change, we cannot support the decision to cut funding Select committee report
The MPs' report said the change would increase substantially the fees ELQ students would have to pay, if the full cost were passed on to them.
"We accept that it is for ministers to decide priorities for funding and that it could be reasonable that public policy should give priority to students who have not studied for a first degree," they said."We accept that it is for ministers to decide priorities for funding and that it could be reasonable that public policy should give priority to students who have not studied for a first degree," they said.
But the government-commissioned Leitch report and others had argued that it was vital on economic and social grounds that the policy be justified with a proper examination of possible unintended consequences, such as reducing the potential of adult learners to retrain and reskill. It was up to ministers to justify the switch of resources, they said.But the government-commissioned Leitch report and others had argued that it was vital on economic and social grounds that the policy be justified with a proper examination of possible unintended consequences, such as reducing the potential of adult learners to retrain and reskill. It was up to ministers to justify the switch of resources, they said.
ReviewReview
"We question the government's case that switching funding from ELQ students would increase opportunities for first-time graduates," the report said."We question the government's case that switching funding from ELQ students would increase opportunities for first-time graduates," the report said.
We believe we have struck the right balance between creating opportunities for first time students and those who need to return to study Bill RammellHigher education ministerWe believe we have struck the right balance between creating opportunities for first time students and those who need to return to study Bill RammellHigher education minister
Ministers ought to explain what had happened to the £20m supposed to be redistributed in 2008-09, it added.Ministers ought to explain what had happened to the £20m supposed to be redistributed in 2008-09, it added.
The MPs said they saw no need for urgency and change, if warranted, could have waited until the planned 2009 review of tuition fees.The MPs said they saw no need for urgency and change, if warranted, could have waited until the planned 2009 review of tuition fees.
Exemptions from the general policy were welcome but should be reviewed this summer rather than in December as the government had promised.Exemptions from the general policy were welcome but should be reviewed this summer rather than in December as the government had promised.
The report concluded: "We support the government's aim of encouraging more first-time students to enter higher education; but without due analysis and evidence of the likely effectiveness and impact of the change, we cannot support the decision to cut funding to ELQ students in this way."The report concluded: "We support the government's aim of encouraging more first-time students to enter higher education; but without due analysis and evidence of the likely effectiveness and impact of the change, we cannot support the decision to cut funding to ELQ students in this way."
'Right balance''Right balance'
Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said the government would respond fully in due course.Higher Education Minister Bill Rammell said the government would respond fully in due course.
But he said it was right to give priority to students who had not studied for a first degree over those who already had one - and more than £200m would continue to support ELQ students.But he said it was right to give priority to students who had not studied for a first degree over those who already had one - and more than £200m would continue to support ELQ students.
"We believe we have struck the right balance between creating opportunities for first-time students and those who need to return to study," he said."We believe we have struck the right balance between creating opportunities for first-time students and those who need to return to study," he said.
"We estimate that our plans to redirect £100m will lead to at least 20,000 people studying for the first time in higher education.""We estimate that our plans to redirect £100m will lead to at least 20,000 people studying for the first time in higher education."
The government was confident that there was such unmet demand, he said.The government was confident that there was such unmet demand, he said.
'Frustration''Frustration'
The chief executive of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, Diana Warwick, said the report provided a welcome opportunity to look again at "the unintended consequences of this poorly considered policy decision".The chief executive of vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, Diana Warwick, said the report provided a welcome opportunity to look again at "the unintended consequences of this poorly considered policy decision".
"We made clear to government our concerns about the impact their decision might have on students in England who are looking to return to higher education to reskill, particularly mature and part-time students," she said."We made clear to government our concerns about the impact their decision might have on students in England who are looking to return to higher education to reskill, particularly mature and part-time students," she said.
"The timing and lack of consultation with universities has left many institutions struggling with their admissions and planning processes and may affect the viability of some courses.""The timing and lack of consultation with universities has left many institutions struggling with their admissions and planning processes and may affect the viability of some courses."
The shadow secretary for innovation, universities and skills, David Willetts, said: "This powerful report reinforces all our objections to the government's policy which has hit second-chance students so hard.The shadow secretary for innovation, universities and skills, David Willetts, said: "This powerful report reinforces all our objections to the government's policy which has hit second-chance students so hard.
"There was no prior consultation. The consequences were not examined properly. And the transitional arrangements are deeply unfair.""There was no prior consultation. The consequences were not examined properly. And the transitional arrangements are deeply unfair."
Ministers should admit they had got it wrong and postpone the change, he said.Ministers should admit they had got it wrong and postpone the change, he said.