61 Education and the recession

Submitted by University and College Union

Congress notes:

i) the economic devastation caused by the collapse of the global financial markets, leading to the second largest rise in unemployment since records began

ii) the disproportionate impact of the recession on young people: over one million under-25s expected to be unemployed by next year

iii) proposed government ‘efficiency savings’ of £35 billion by 2010/11

iv) the devastating impact of the recession on further and higher education, with thousands of educators’ jobs cut, millions of course places slashed, and communities devastated.

Congress believes that education has inherent value, and should be accessed by right, not as a matter of privilege. It has the potential to generate the knowledge and creativity that will drive economic recovery and reinforce our cultural understanding and confidence.

Colleges and universities are at the heart of any successful strategy to combat recession through open access to all who wish to re-skill and retrain. The restoration of Equivalent or Lower Qualification (ELQ) funding, and the provision of proper funding for all adults seeking access to post-school education, are urgent requirements.

Congress rejects:

a) the continuing drive to privatisation and marketisation of education, which drives down quality and increases casualisation

b) the commercialisation of research in universities and the resulting restrictions on academic freedom.

Congress calls on the General Council to campaign:

1) for a reversal of ELQ cuts, and for proper funding for both further and higher education to provide real educational opportunities for the growing numbers of unemployed people

2) against attacks on the jobs, pay, pensions and conditions of college and university staff.