Around a month ago I blogged about our support for the campaign to save the University of Reading's School of Health and Social Care from closure.
Despite the close vote on the issue by the University Senate last week, we learned earlier today that the University Council has taken the decision to close the School for good in 2011.
The arrogance shown by the University of Reading on this issue is breathtaking.
Students and staff of the School united with politicians of all parties to argue for the University to re-think its decision. A total of 671 individuals signed a petition against the closure.
I was privileged to catch the end of the public meeting in support of the campaign held in the Town Hall on Monday. The passion and determination shown by all who attended that meeting was inspiring, in the face of the University's intransigence.
Last month, the Lib Dems tabled a motion to Council calling on the University not to close the School which drew all-Party support.
As a result of the motion, Michael Coughlin, Chief Executive of RBC wrote to Professor Gordon Marshall, Vice Chancellor of the University of Reading calling on him to halt the closure.
Today I saw a copy of his response received by Mr Coughlin yesterday, it consisted of one sentence which read:
'Thank you for your letter...concerning the proposed closure of the School of Health and Social Care. I have noted the contents carefully.'
Mr Marshall's response shows him to be completely out of touch and out of step with public opinion which was overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the School open.
In addition, Mr Marshall appears to fail to acknoweldge completely any responsibility on the part of the University for the impact this decision will have on the wider community.
A statement issued by the University earlier today speaks of the University's responsibility to it's staff and students but says nothing whatsoever about it's duties to the community, stating baldly that 'the University will be making no further comment at this time'.
Sadly this attitude has echoes of the arrogant approach adopted by the University in relation to planning and other local matters in recent years.
Mr Marshall sent the letter to Michael Coughlin on the same day it was revealed that he has received an 8% increase in his take home pay and is receiving a salary of £217.513.
This is despite the fact that we were told by University management in February that the School of Social Care must close due to lack of funds being available.
This is a scandal.
The University Council has made a massive mistake in failing to recognise the vital contribution the School of Health and Social Care made not only to Reading but to Berkshire more widely and to the field of social work.
In addition, to take such a decision at a time when social work is in turmoil demonstrates utter contempt by the Univesity's senior management for what happens in the real world, outside the University.
Nationally, it is widely known that the shortage of social workers is currently at crisis level.
In Reading we know that the most vulnerable people in our community are already suffering from an acute shortage of social workers made worse by the damning performance assessment of the Council's Children's Services by Ofsted in January.
I would like to pay particular tribute to Ann Quinn, Director of the School of Health and Social Care who has led the campaign against the closure with quiet dignity throughout what must have been an incredibly stressful time. As Ann Quinn said a couple of weeks ago:
"There is no logic whatsoever in closing this school.It provides invaluable training and is completely self-sustaining.
“It is really important that senate members realise that axing the department will damage Reading’s reputation. The UK is desperately short of social workers at the moment and Reading should be at the forefront of provision not scaling things back.”
Leaving aside the arrogance of local University officials, let us not forget It is the disastrous impact of the policies of this Labour government which have wrecked higher education funding in this country, forcing Universities like Reading to take drastic action such as closing departments to stay afloat and saddling students with thousands of pounds worth of debt.
I spoke today to one student due to graduate from Reading University this year who told me he is already in debt to the tune of £20,000 and the prospect of him and many others like him finding employment after University looks bleak.
Reading University students joined the national delegation to Parliament earlier this week to protest at the latest plans to charge students up to £20,000 to go to University .
Labour MPs know how toxic their higher education policies are, which is no doubt why the review of tuition fees (and student finance) has been postponed until after the next general election.
David Blunkett, former Education Secretary responsible for introducing tuition fees in 1997 admitted himself this week that increasing tuition fees in the middle of a recession was the wrong thing to do.
Liberal Democrat Shadow Higher Education spokesman, Stephen Williams MP has called the decision:
'..a spineless act of political cowardice”.
“Whether or not you agree with the Lib Dem policy of maintaining university funding through general taxation and… reducing student debt, at least students and staff know what we stand for, that our proposals are costed and credible,” he said.
“If the review is parked until after the election, then students will rightly assume that the other parties have something nasty in store for them.”
While we mourn the loss of the School of Health and Social Care, we will continue to do all we can to support Ann Quinn, the staff and students affected by this ill-thought out decision.
Meanwhile, the fight continues to save the School of Continuing Education which has sadly also been earmarked for closure.
Students, communities and our Universities themselves deserve better.
Quite an informative article that you've shared on training for social care here. It's covers some fairly accurate points, however I would have liked to see a mention of the new QCF frameworks - they are making a fundamental difference in regards to vocational qualifications nowadays.
Posted by: Training for Social Care | November 24, 2010 at 11:42 AM