Dai Havard

Labour Party | Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney

Education is About More Than Money!

I wrote an article for the Express in August last year in defence of those educators’ and young people who had just gained examination results. There were those trying to de-value the genuine efforts and achievements of our young people. I said then that it reminded me that education is still the ‘liberator’ of individuals and societies, and education in that respect is subversive, and to have real value, long may it remain so. I also remembered those with vested interests, like the ‘Oxbridge’ tutored pundits, who really wish to keep it ‘elitist’.

It is in that context that I have opposed from the start the notion of a ‘market’ being introduced into higher education. Those universities that need money most to attract and support more people from communities such as ours will gain least under a ‘market’ system, and courses will be chosen on cost. There is a generational chance to change not just how we fund universities but how we fund the education of individuals post 16 and life long learning. I believe the present government proposals are not fit for purpose and I hope that they will be changed to allow a far more coherent approach across all the factors, not just young people studying full time degrees.

The funding of universities is a complex issue and more time and different ideas to deal with it properly is needed. A three-year ‘review’ will not do. The principles will have been sold by then. I am not prepared to sanction plans that will potentially damage rather than help our local universities, and do little to widen and deepen participation. The tyranny of the elitist, university, Vice Chancellors cannot be allowed to drag us into the US model of higher education. I have opposed ‘marketisation’ in the Health Service and I oppose it in Education.