Brown's agenda: Education

ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the challenges facing Gordon Brown in relation to education.

 

Stakeholder response: CMU Universities Group

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Professor Les Ebdon, vice-chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire and chairman of the CMU Universities Group, said: “Our universities play a significant role in social mobility, equality of opportunity and the knowledge economy and can make a huge contribution to this agenda.

"It also indicates that a Brown Government is serious about massively increasing the numbers in the workforce with higher level qualifications – a challenge identified in the Leitch Report - and which our Universities can undoubtedly fulfill”

In evidence to Lord Sainsbury’s Review on Science (set up by Gordon Brown when he was Chancellor and due to report in early July), the CMU Universities Group urged the creation of “a Department and a new dynamic interface in Government to link higher education, skills, enterprise, science and innovation.

The CMU Universities Group belives the new Brown government should:

• Promote the significant contribution of our universities to social mobility, equality and the knowledge economy role create parity of esteem and funding for teaching, applied research and innovation.

• Fund for research capacity and infrastructure and secure the inter-relationship between undergraduate and advanced graduate teaching and accessible, relevant research and knowledge transfer, including for SMEs.

• Use our universities and our students to encourage aspiration and access to the world-class higher education which we offer.

• Recognise that the global links of our students and the global partnerships of our universities are crucial to the UK’s future economic success.

• Promote higher education as a public service and not just as a market commodity.

• Be cautious about any review of fees which promotes institutional or student inequity.

• Remember that 45 per cent of students are part-time – many of them in our universities - and that mature students are just as important as 18 year olds.

 

Stakeholder Response: NUT

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Steve Sinnott, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: "Congratulations to Ed Balls. I welcome his appointment to what is the best job in government but also an extremely important and demanding job.  He has worked closely with the prime minister when at the Treasury and will be able to do so in his new role. He is a MP with a wealth of ideas and energy which will now be available for the development of the education service.

"I can understand the prime minister’s desire to separate the differing responsibilities that have existed in the Department for Education and Skills. But history teaches us that the need to apply a joined up approach across the various phases of education always leads back to unity."

 

Stakeholder response: GuildHE

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Pamela Taylor, GuildHE chair and principal of Newman College, said: "Higher education has already benefited from initial valuable investment into student support, academic infrastructure and funding for learning and teaching. 

"We hope very much that this will continue into the key activities of learning and teaching and widening participation, both of which need considerable continuing investment in staffing to support students and provide appropriate resources. 

"Those institutions which provide teacher education are particularly keen to see sustained investment in the workforce for schools and in particular a real consideration of the teacher-pupil ratio for secondary schools.  

"This is not a moment to be cutting teacher numbers if the pupils who currently fail to progress are to receive appropriate support and encouragement to move on and develop the higher level skills which the economy desperately needs."

Alice Hynes, executive secretary of GuildHE, said: "We are excited by the new opportunities signalled by the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

"GuildHE will be keen to work with colleagues in the DIUS on the knowledge and employer – led agendas as well as their previous DfES colleagues now part of the Department for Children, Schools and Families to continue effective support for teacher education.

"GuildHE members have demonstrated their commitment to a more prosperous, well-informed and cohesive society. 

"We are interested in working with these reconfigured departments to make the difference for the benefit of our current and future students."

 

Stakeholder Response: The ATL

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Dr Mary Bousted said: "If the creation of an extra education department means greater attention is given to the further education sector and lifelong learning it will be a positive move. 

"And extending the remit of an education department – children and schools and families – to include responsibility for children’s welfare recognises the importance of family background and circumstances on children’s learning.

"We very much hope the two new education departments are successful, but from past experience - when education, skills and training was split between departments – we have concerns about how it will work.

"In particular the two departments will have to work hard to co-ordinate policies for reform of 14 to 19 education and developing diplomas and vocational qualifications since they cross the department divide.

"We hope the new education departments remain committed to working in social partnership with the education unions and employers.  We look forward to working with both secretaries of state – Ed Balls and John Denham."

 

Stakeholder response: The IET

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Robin McGill, Chief Executive of the IET said: "As Chancellor, Gordon Brown demonstrated how highly he valued science and engineering, and today’s appointments and changes seem to underline that commitment. 

"If the Prime Minister is serious about delivering science and engineering for the 21st century in the UK, the IET will rise up to the challenges with him.

"We hope this is the start of a new dialogue between Government, industry and the professional bodies and we’re ready to play our part in the work of change."