Student cuts on MP’s agenda

newly-elected MP Debbie Abrahams has accused the Government of kicking away the ladders of opportunity for the most disadvantaged young people with its plans to overhaul the education system.

Labour’s Oldham East and Saddleworth MP said the Education Bill — which includes plans to remove the cap on student loan interest — was like “the small print of a dodgy contract” which in effect allows profit to be made out of student debt.

She added: “With the trebling of tuition fees, this is another example of the Government’s unfairness, kicking away the ladders of opportunity from our most disadvantaged young people.”

The Government says the move will free “outstanding” schools and colleges from routine inspections and expands the academies programme to allow 16-19 and alternative provision academies, hand greater powers to teachers to search or expel unruly pupils while also giving them greater protection against unfounded allegations.

Other measures include more early years care, the abolition of five education quangos, and a “real and progressive” rate of interest on university student loans.

But Mrs Abrahams said it fails young people, makes it impossible for parents to challenge decisions about admissions and limits the choice of subjects.

She added: “From early-years provision to students aspiring to higher education, the bill restricts educational opportunity.

“With one hand, it extends free entitlement for early education and child care, which I support, yet with the other it removes the need for local authorities to ensure that there is enough quality child care available in their area.

“It is no good saying that early-years education is important, only to take away the funding so that parents cannot access it.

“Even if a child can get into the school that the parents want, the way in which the Secretary of State is narrowing the national curriculum will make it harder for children to achieve. He claims that he wants to consult parents and teachers on what should be taught, but by limiting the English baccalaureate he seems already to have made up his mind that it should be quite restrictive.

“How can I say to a young person from my constituency that it is more important for them to learn Latin than to be able to use a computer, especially when 10 per cent of our gross domestic product is generated from the online economy? That simply does not make sense.”

The Bill cleared its first hurdle in the Commons.

Education Secretary Michael Gove vowed it would help guarantee every child “high quality” schooling to equip them for the “challenges of the next century.”