Late last summer, while parliament was still in recess,
the new universities secretary John Denham announced anend to funding for students taking qualifications
equivalent to or lower than those they already
possessed. Apart from a narrow list of exempt
courses, the government had withdrawn support from students wishing
to retrain in vital subjects. Needless to say, ICT wasn't on the
list, writesRob Wilson, shadow minister for higher
education.
Parliament's Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee
immediately began an inquiry into the controversial decision and
received 475 submissions, nearly all hostile to the government's
plans. It will come as no surprise that several of the submissions
came from major players in the IT sector, who emphasised the
strategic importance of IT to our economy.
With the growing challenges of
globalisation, the strength of our economy rests on the
advanced skills of our workforce - and the quality of those skills
invariably depends on the ability of our workforce to exploit the
latest computer technology.
It is indicative of this government's complacent attitude that
it has allowed the
number of trained computer experts to fall.
Figures published by Ucas show that since a peak of 29,000
students entering computing courses in 2001, the number had fallen
to 17,000 by 2006. We will face real difficulties competing with
tech giants in the US, Japan and India if numbers continue to fall,
but ministers have compounded the problem by removing financial
support from those who want to retrain in computing.
What is most worrying is that ministers are well aware of the
problems. Digby Jones, the trade and investment minister, has said,
"More than a million jobs depend on the success of the ICT sector,
which generates more than 6% of GDP. Its importance to our economy
is unquestionable." So at a time when the government emphasising
the importance of ICT, it is cutting vital funding from the
sector.
The proportion of jobs that carried a skilled IT component rose
from 60% in 2005 to 72% in 2006. At the same time, there was a 42%
drop in students entering computing and IT degrees.
The combination of increased demand for IT skills in the
workforce, coupled with a decline in computing graduates means that
there will almost certainly be an ever widening IT skills gap.
Those who truly understand the IT industry know that the
government's plans are deeply damaging. Had ministers consulted the
industry before last summer's announcement, they would have
realised that profound misgivings exist. But they did not consult,
and they still fail to appreciate the impact their policy will
have.
The CBI was right when it said, "Shifting funding away from ELQs
looks like a crude measure that has not been properly discussed
with the sector and which will probably have unintended
consequences." Just what those consequences will be we will soon
discover. But what is beyond doubt is that government thinking is
muddled. Ministers claim to believe in lifelong learning, but they
have withdrawn support for those hoping to improve their skills.
Now, for the first time ever, UK students will be treated as
equivalent to non EU students when studying for a degree - with all
the additional cost that "overseas" status will bring.
Such a decision should only have been taken after a thorough
review of the likely impact. Along with my parliamentary colleague
David Willetts, the shadow secretary for innovation, universities
and skills, I have urged the government to bring forward its
planned review of higher education funding that is due to take
place in late 2009, and this review should now consider the
government's decision to end support for "second chance"
education.
Britain needs a highly skilled workforce to enable our economy
to compete alongside our major global competitors. The strength of
our IT industry is vital in that challenge. Listening to its
concerns will be a priority of an incoming Conservative
government.
News story: shadow minister for higher education slams cut in
funding for IT training >>