Vol. 520 No. 5
10 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered the two recent reports by the Higher Education Authority, namely Access and Equity in Higher Education: an international perspective on issues and strategies and Meeting the Equity Challenge in Higher Education, a review of international experience; the proposal he has towards adopting these reports as part of the education policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16121/00]
The reports to which the Deputy refers were undertaken by Professor Malcolm Skilbeck and Dr. Helen Connell on behalf of the Higher Education Authority and were published last month. They acknowledge the growing movement to advance equity in higher education and note that considerable progress has been made, notably through the substantial quantitative growth of third level places and the establishment of a greater diversity of institutions and programmes in recent decades. However, the reports note the continued serious under-representation of lower socio-economic groups, the limited success of women in climbing the career ladder in academia and the significant barriers facing students with disabilities. They also outline the range of barriers facing each target group and consider the range of policy responses across the international community.
In setting out a range of propositions to increase equity in higher education, Professor Skilbeck comments that there is no single solution to the problem. I welcome the publication of these reports, which set a context for our higher education institutions to develop policies in relation to equity and access.
Our higher education institutions have statutory obligations to promote equality both in terms of gender equality and in terms of equality of opportunity for all sections of society. Accordingly, the goal of achieving equity in higher education is a central pillar of educational policy and I have already indicated my commitment to tackling issues of under-representation at higher levels. I am looking forward to the major forum on equity issues in higher education which the Higher Education Authority intends to host in the autumn and which will provide an oppor tunity to consider the issues and strategies in relation to access and equity which have been raised in the reports.
The Minister correctly stated that no one measure has been recommended. Does he accept that a range of measures from pre-school to third level are urgently required if we are to make a significant impact on participation rates? Does he also accept the recommendations made in the reports and, if so, what steps is he taking to incorporate them into existing policy?
The reports cover a large area, including 14 propositions of wide general applicability across the broad field of equity in higher education through which further progress towards a more equitable system may be achieved. In general terms, I support the recommendations made in the reports. A number of the specific ideas to which the reports refer were also highlighted by the Commission on the Points System. The final report of the Commission on the Points System contains a number of recommendations in relation to disadvantaged students. The principal recommendation is that the quota of disadvantaged students in third level education should be increased to 5%. The long-term aspiration is to increase participation to rates more reflective of the number of disadvantaged students in the population as a whole. I intend to establish a special group to advance matters in this area.
Is it not the case that in the White Paper the Department committed to creating places at third level for an additional 500 people per year from disadvantaged backgrounds? Is it also not the case that by now there should be 2,500 people from such backgrounds in third level education but that the Department has failed in this regard? Is it not true that aspiring towards a quota of 5% is meaningless unless real policies are put in place to underpin that aspiration? Will the Minister consider urgently addressing the huge shortfall in respect of existing targets?
I am concerned about the targets to which the Deputy refers. Under the national development plan, the Government has made £95 million available for a third level access fund. This fund will provide opportunities to promote participation by students with disabilities, students from disadvantaged backgrounds and mature "second chance" students. Preparatory work on these matters is ongoing and I hope to make policy decisions on them in the near future.
Does the Minister accept that, prior to setting targets or implementing policies to achieve such targets, it is important to have a clear information base on participation rates? Will he outline the current participation rates in third level institutions of people from lower socio-economic groups?
That information was not requested but such participation rates are undoubtedly far below desirable levels. I do not have the figures to hand.
Will the Minister obtain them for me?
I will, in so far as they are available. The figures may be mere approximations.
