Uni targets are “meaningless” and “fanciful”
The Government ought to jettison its target of getting 50 per cent of young people into university by 2010, the Tory leader said yesterday.
Michael Howard said the goal was “meaningless” and “fanciful.”
Mr Howard said the target was unnecessary and impossible, with or without top-up fees.
Prime Minister Tony Blair faces a possible rebellion against controversial clauses in the higher education bill. Under Government’s proposals, universities would be allowed to levy GBP3,000 a year top up fees.
A total of 157 Labour backbenchers have signed Ian Gibson’s Early Day Motion 7 on alternatives to variable top-up fees.
Only 82 Labour MPs have to vote against the Higher Education Bill to bring down this central plank of the Government’s legislative programme.
Mr Howard argued significant high dropout rates and so-called ‘Mickey Mouse’ courses suggested that many students do not benefit from a university education.
“If you look coolly and calmly at what’s happening at present – at the drop-out rates, at the ‘Mickey Mouse’ courses at some universities – then the case for increasing the number to achieve this arbitrary target of 50 per cent looks even more doubtful and even more difficult to justify.
‘At the moment around 42-43 per cent of young people go to university, and there are probably a good number of people at university today who would benefit far more from proper vocational education that is geared to their needs, outside university.
“The notion that you’re likely to get to 50 per cent in the next few years, if you apply the criterion that the people who should got to university are those who can benefit from it, is I think a bit fanciful.
“If look at the Government’s proposal, it is an absolute nonsense.”
Mr Howard said last night: “Both Tony Blair and I fought the last general election on a clear manifesto promise not to introduce top-up fees.
“The difference between us is that I’m keeping my promise and he’s breaking his.”
Today, Education Secretary Charles Clarke will hold the first of six planned meetings with MPs in a bid to dampen talk of rebellion.
