Private school organizations have criticized a move by the government to consider university admission based on social classes. They argue that this will discriminate qualified students based on class rather than performance.
Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference (HMC), a representative body for top UK private schools, has criticized plans by the office for students (OFS) to expand access to the UK’s most selective universities.
Opposition by private schools
OFS has proposed a policy that they indicated will half the disparity between well to do students and disadvantaged students in half in these prestigious universities. However, this move has upset HMC, who argued that it would end up hurting the more deserving students. They argued that the move was discriminating based on class.
OFS goal was to grow the number of students from poor backgrounds by 6,500 per year in the next five years. They argued this would close the huge gap currently in UK universities and help students have better access to education.
HMC’s executive director, Mike Buchanan, however, did not have the same sentiments and criticized the move by saying they should admit more suitable students rather than the going with the subjective opinion of who is more deserving.
He continued by saying that the OFS can be able to reach its goals without affecting students from private schools. He told them to review the number of international schools which can create space for students from poor backgrounds. This would ensure students from the UK are not denied entry into universities and also help the OFS reach its goal.
Private school students discriminated
Buchanan added that admission to universities based on pupils’ backgrounds was only viable if the process used was based on a meticulous individual basis. He argued that some of the students who attend public schools, for instance, are not poor and would end up denying deserving students from private schools a place in prestigious universities.
He continued by saying,
Independent schools play an important role in getting disadvantaged students into university through offering free and discounted places. Not all state-educated students are disadvantaged and the majority of students from affluent backgrounds are not educated in HMC schools. This is why a sophisticated approach is needed for the country genuinely to level up.
The universities minister, Chris Skidmore, indicated that he was in full support of the OFS for their efforts in closing the gaps. He admitted that the UK should not have come to such levels of disparities and commended the efforts being made by OFS.
Featured image by Unsplash
