Issues of Equality: Mature Students at UK Universities

Issues of Equality: Mature Students at UK Universities

In the UK August is always a month that the education system particularly focuses upon. Yet, in 2009 the A-Level grades received by students up and down the country have not only served to dr4um up the frankly accusations by those claiming such courses get easier year on year, but has also solidified the notion that our universities are going to receive the biggest influx of students ever.
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nThere are numerous reasons for the large number of enrolment numbers. Many are looking at the recession as a cause for more mature students to return (or attend for the first time) to university in order to improve their CVs. However, as the highest percentage (97.5 percent) of A-Level students ever get passes, competition for those ever-precious uni places is now even more tough for mature students. And after a report by the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee – there is plenty of room for reform for when our older students actually get to university.
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nThe report, published on 2nd August, describes a lack of equality between the treatment of the majority of young students in comparison to that of mature and part-time learners. Within the report, a spokesmen for the University Alliance urged institutions to ‘make it much more flexible for students to be able to complete a course,’ a point of view that was reflected by the student’s union at Birkbeck College, ‘particularly with more mature students and part-time students who are juggling care and responsibilities, full-time jobs, and also if you are travelling a long distance onto a campus.’
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nHowever, the report pushed for far more than merely giving students time-pushed mature students more flexibility – that similar to which is experienced on many adult adult education and distance learning courses. It also highlighted “disparity” in the funding system, which was said to favour young people over older learners – an aspect of the system that is simply unfair.
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nUpon reaching their conclusion about mature students, the committee regarded anything less than treating mature students the same as the student majority will amount to discrimination – and will act in opposition to the government’s high aims for the standard of education in the UK by 2020. Of course, how much changes remains to be seen, yet it is likely that our institutions will begin to looked more mixed and more adult focused over the next few years.
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Posted Date: 2009-09-09 21:17:19