Dai Havard

Labour Party | Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney

The Subversive Liberator

Every year we see some in the media wrongly de-value the genuine efforts and achievements of the young people who are our future. I was again pleased to see that this ‘feeding frenzy’ by some National Newspapers Editors was not shared - last year or this - by the ‘Express’ Editor, who instead recognised our young people, should be praised and encouraged. I extend my congratulations to all of those young people who achieved so much in their recent exams and to all those who taught and helped them.

A proper continuing debate about educational standards and improving them is however vital as education is still the great ‘liberator’ of individuals and societies. I know this from my own experience. Failing my ’11 Plus’ and my later ‘second chance’ University and continuing education, reinforce my knowledge that Education is ‘subversive’ and ‘liberating’ in the best senses and to have real value long may it remain so.

If education was not as important as it is then the Tory MP’s and the ‘establishment’ generally would not spend so much to send their children to so-called Public Schools and there would not be such a debate about so-called ‘choice’ and setting schools ‘free’ to select.

Education in Wales is now the responsibility of the Assembly and not Westminster and I am pleased to see that some of the spurious ‘choice’ ideas for England are not being taken up. But I make no apology for resisting and voting against the changes to Higher Education and ‘Top Up Fees’, with its related devolution of powers. However, the Assembly will soon have full responsibility for University student funding. Not charging ‘Top Up Fees’ in Wales - but ‘Top Up Fees’ for students from Wales having to pay be paid to Universities in England - will pose an interesting dilemma. It will be a difficult task for the Assembly to balance the money needed for ‘early year’s’ education with that to support University and Further Education. I wish them more than luck!