Member News
Shadow universities and skills secretary David Willetts has likened the government's approach to university expansion to "driving a car with the accelerator and brake both pressed to the floor".
In a speech at the University of Kent on Wednesday, Willetts will say it is a "scandal" that while the government has set a target of 50 per cent participation, the chances of men reaching university are going downwards.
His speech came as the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) wrote to universities telling them that 10,000 additional student numbers would be funded for 2009/10.
But as those numbers have already been allocated to universities since January 2008, this means there will be no additional numbers funded in either of the next two academic years.
Willetts will say: "The latest letter from Hefce shows ministers have ordered a reduction in the number of extra places on offer for next year.
That is why Hefce wrote to all universities asking them to 'review their planned recruitment for 2009/10' and warning there will be no allocations for extra places in 2010/11 for the foreseeable future.
"It is absurd to have a target for 50 per cent participation and specifically to prohibit universities from meeting it. It is like trying to drive a car with the accelerator and brake both pressed to the floor."
He will also say: "In 1999, the government promised to get 50 per cent of young people to university by 2010. It is a scandal that the figure remains below 40 per cent and, for men, the chances of reaching university are actually going downwards."
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd