Our thanks to the reporter Jason Seebaruth for the following article:

Education cannot be run as a business nor be seen as serving the needs of business, according to the views of Terry Hoad, Vice President of the University and College Union.
 
Addressing delegates at the Compass Conference last weekend, Terry Hoad questioned the Government’s commitment to education, following the creation of a new Government department, Business, Innovation and Skills.
 
Mr Hoad explained, “There is now no Government department with education or university in it. We must recognise the wholeness of education. Education is fundamental to the prosperity of all men and women. It should be apparent in times of recession to commit and invest in education. Knowledge, creativity and skills help maintain social bonds, but budgetary pruning will mean those benefits will not be met.”
 
He called for the Government to adopt a different approach to education, citing the fall in the number of adults in learning and the loss of college and university places.
 
Mr Hoad continued, “We need a vigorous FE and HE system if the economy, society and individuals are to survive. By cutting funding, the government is creating barriers to learning. Our colleges and universities will play an important part, but they must be given greater freedom to help people. FE colleges are very much rooted in their communities. They must be able to open doors to help retrain people.”

 Jason Seebaruth
http://knol.google.com/k/jason-seebaruth