Direct Education Scheduler
A higher education bill retreat will just push changes under the radar | Liam Burns
David Cameron and his education minister, David Willetts, appear to have made a U-turn on a proposed higher education bill. Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images
The government’s apparent retreat on presenting a bill on higher education in this parliamentary session has been welcomed by many working and studying in higher education. It is seen either as a U-turn on policy direction after months of public criticism, protests and occupations, or a sign that ministers have heeded calls from the sector for stability until the impact of a trebling of the fee cap to £9,000 is known. In truth, it is neither and we must stay vigilant.
Many of the most damaging proposals contained in the government’s white paper can now happen under the radar, without scrutiny from either the Commons or the Lords. The platform that would have allowed us to defeat these moves where we can, and secure protections where we can’t has been denied to us, while the government can continue to drastically reshape our universities without being challenged in parliament.