Once again “Rishi Sunak announces crackdown on ‘poor quality’ university courses.” To summarise the basis of his argument seems to be that courses that have either high levels of drop outs or poor student earning potential post graduation should be penalised. I am not against better controls on higher education but this once again sees education only as a tool to make profit and dropping out of a course as an inherent failure rather than an example of someone challenging themselves or perhaps finding their true passion.

My grandad, an old English lecturer, was such a strong proponent of ‘knowledge for the sake of knowledge’. Study and learning don’t always have to have a deeper meaning or transferable skills. You learned because you wanted to and that was enough.

Why should learning and education be a commodity whose only value is in how much money it’s students can make? That gives no ‘currency’ to the value of history, culture, arts, languages, literature and a whole host of other things that are important to current society. But even if they aren’t directly important (in an obvious way) knowledge has value of its own. Each persons unique knowledge bank and how that impacts their thought processes generates essential diversity. Furthermore the ultimate goal should be people spending their lives doing what they love not earning the most money they can (although evidently there is a minimum income everyone needs). Let’s recognize that education shouldn’t just be about preparing individuals for the workforce. Education can provide a deeper understanding and appreciation for the world around us. It can offer opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. By limiting education to just a means for making money, we miss out on the many benefits it can provide.

Different studies cause people to think in different ways. How we learn to process information; do research; communicate; collaborate; speak; write; draw; debate etc. etc. there are endless numbers of ways to approach any one of those. I definitely think that the more variety of thought we have the better a chance society has at tackling the problems of todays world.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to offer a diverse range of subjects and fields of study for students to explore. By limiting their options, we limit their potential for growth and development. We need to encourage creativity, critical thinking, and open-mindedness, which can only be achieved through exposure to a wide variety of ideas and perspectives. Take the arts. They serve as a means of expression, communication, and criticism. Art can transcend language barriers and speak to people from all walks of life, evoking emotions and inspiring action. It has the power to challenge our perspectives, open our minds, and create a sense of community. Art is an important part of our cultural heritage, and it helps us to understand and appreciate the diversity of human experience. Ultimately, the arts help to enrich our lives in countless ways.

The pursuit of further education is becoming increasingly expensive. This has resulted in a disheartening trend of alienating children from further studies by limiting the options available to them. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to go to university than their more affluent peers. Even in Scotland where fees are free for home students there are huge additional cost of living factors and any paid work has to fit around studies. Here again there is an inequality that middle and upper class students are less like to have jobs and if they do hours tend to be less. Some people will also feel a greater pressure to do more career based degrees. Unfortunately, this exacerbates the already significant attainment gap in the UK. In this context it refers to the difference in academic achievement between students from different socioeconomic backgrounds. I am generalising of course there will be many people who do not fit into the averages. But the existence of that attainment gap shows divisions in society still very much exists.

This gap has a harmful impact on society as a whole. It perpetuates inequality and limits social mobility, making it harder for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed and reach their full potential. It also contributes to a skills shortage in the workforce, as talented individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds are often unable to reach their full potential due to limited educational opportunities and financial support. Similar issues face disabled folks who can’t get the adaptations they need. This means they either need to stop completely or use up far more energy to get to the same point they would have been at with those adaptations. It is essential to address the academic attainment gap by investing in education and providing equal opportunities to all children. So we can create a fairer and more equal society, where everyone has the chance to succeed and better society as a whole.

It’s time we start valuing education for what it truly is: a tool for personal and societal growth, not just a means for financial gain. We need to invest in education and make it accessible to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Only then can we truly create a society that is equipped to tackle the challenges of today and tomorrow.