Bridging the access gap for the 16-18 age group has emerged as a high profile issue, with students, vice chancellors and the Labour party all making it a priority.
The announcement by the Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals that it will be linking with the National Union of Students to look at ways of improving access to higher education for groups with lower participation rates came less than 24 hours after Labour announced plans for an "education allowance" to replace child benefit for 16 to18-year-olds.
Gareth Roberts, chairman of the CVCP, told the Sheffield residential meeting that special initiatives to address the balance of socio-economic groups in higher education would be among the recommendations included in the committee's submission to the Dearing review.
Student and vice chancellor representatives will be meeting in the next couple of weeks to discuss possible ways in which such access may be encouraged.
Douglas Trainer, NUS president, said precise details had to be worked out but there wereexisting and pilot programmes in areas such as schools liaison which should provide examples for the system as a whole: "The issue of access is too often left to marketing departments. It needs to be looked at from the point of view of student experience and opportunities as well as bums on seats." He cited Oxford's black mentor scheme as one example of a good programme.
Labour denounced present welfare and education provision - arguing that child benefit at 16-plus was arbitrary, unfair and open to abuse and that Britain's 16-18 participation rates were still behind our competitors. It called for: * a statutory requirement that everyone between 16 and 18 "who needs qualifications" should be in part-time or full-time education or training * the abolition of Youth Training, to be replaced by expanded apprenticeships and a wider range of college-based courses * a career development plan for every young person * an education allowance to replace child benefit after 16. Like child benefit, it would be paid to the mother. The allowance would be conditional on attendance at school or on a recognised college course.
The NUS welcomed the proposal as offering millions the opportunity and incentive to stay in study or training, but called for allowances to be extended to mature students and young people who have left home.