University reforms supported by 91 percent – ‘desperately needed’

Teacher strikes: Gillian Keegan grilled on meetings over pay

The Government is reportedly planning to reform university entry requirements alongside reducing the number of “low quality” degrees, to encourage more young people to register for apprenticeships and alternative qualifications. A new Express.co.uk poll has shown more than 90 percent of readers support the plans.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has privately expressed support for the Department for Education’s changes, as he is concerned about the impact of “low-quality” courses on the taxpayer,  according to a report in the Sunday Times on March 26.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has previously showed support for reforms, writing a foreword to a 2019 report by thinktank Onward, which warned one in five graduates was no better off five years after graduating than if they had chosen a route outside of university. 

In a poll that ran from 7am on Sunday, April 2, to 5pm on Thursday, April 6, Express.co.uk asked readers: “Do you support No 10 plan to reduce ‘low quality’ degrees to ease taxpayer burden?”

A total of 2,797 readers responded, with the overwhelming majority, 91 percent (2,539 people) answering “yes” in support of the plans, compared to eight percent (235 people) who said “no”. A further one percent (23 people) said they did not know either way.

Hundreds of comments were left below the accompanying article as readers debated reforms to university degrees.

The majority of opinion was in support of reforms, with username Freddy.boy declaring that it “has been desperately needed for decades”.

Username Mue said: “All over the world university degree standards have deteriorated bringing everything down to the lowest common denominator. Once it was prestigious to go to university but today some of the courses do not give the young job opportunities.”

Another, username Babyboomer said: “The dumbing down of our education system needs to be halted before we go into terminal decline.”

And username Red4ever added: “Degree subjects available should reflect the employment needs of the country.”

However, a minority of readers were against the reforms. Username pretiumvictoriae said: “Don’t support political interference in the education system in any form. Courses should be a result of student demand university offers.”

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