The Conservative Party announced a bold initiative to cancel some university courses in England, which it described as “theft”, in order to fund 100,000 vocational training annually if the party succeeds in achieving victory in the upcoming July elections.
The proposed plan targets certificates with high dropout rates and poor job opportunities, with the aim of reallocating funds to support vocational training. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has criticized former Labor Prime Minister Tony Blair's target of sending half of young people to university, arguing that it led to a rise in low-value degrees.
In a press release, the Conservatives outlined their intention to introduce legislation that would enable the Office for Students to close poorly performing courses, judged by metrics such as dropout rates, career progression, and future earnings potential. This comes in the wake of the government's announcement last July to set a cap on the number of students in courses that fail to achieve good results.
The Conservatives estimate that stopping these courses could save the government £910 million by 2030. This figure is based on the premise that students from poorly performing courses will earn less income, leading to unpaid student debts that taxpayers eventually cover. The end. They expect that 75% of students from these courses will go on to work or vocational training.
Labor criticized the government for overseeing a significant drop in new apprenticeships, with Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson describing the announcement as “laughable”. She confirmed Labour's plans to introduce technical excellence colleges and reform the apprenticeship levy to allow more flexible training options.
The Liberal Democrats also condemned the current state of the apprenticeship system, with education spokeswoman Munira Wilson highlighting low wages and high school drop-out rates as important issues that need urgent reform.
Rachel Hewitt, CEO of MillionPlus, stressed that apprenticeships and higher education should not be seen as mutually exclusive. She pointed out that modern universities already offer vocational training programs, combining academic study with industrial experience, allowing students to earn money while learning.
Despite the criticism, the Conservative Party remains steadfast in its position, anticipating that the proposed savings will enable the government to invest £885 million in creating an additional 100,000 vocational training per year by the end of the next Parliament.
The number of new apprenticeships in England fell from 509,400 in 2015/16 to 321,400 in 2020/21, with a slight increase to 337,100 in 2022/23. However, dropout rates remain a concern, with only 53.4% of trainees completing their programs in 2021/22, falling short of the government's target of 67% by the end of 2024/25.
Overall, the proposed “triple insurance” plan aims to refocus educational funding toward vocational training and apprenticeships, and address long-standing concerns about the value and outcomes of some college degrees. Governors position this policy as a key element of their strategy to promote job opportunities and economic stability for future generations.