Blunkett joins string of MPs in drive to save the Open University

DAVID Blunkett was joined by leading MPs yesterday in backing the Daily Mail’s campaign to rescue the Open University.

Two members of the Commons education select committee – Labour’s Lucy Powell and James Frith – plus the party’s universities spokesman Gordon Marsden joined Lord Blunkett’s call for part-time study to remain an option for today’s youngsters.

Television scientist Professor Brian Cox, who presented the BBC’s Wonders Of series, also voiced his support. The Daily Mail launched its campaign at the weekend to urge ministers to help the OU after student numbers dropped by 28 per cent in five years.

It coincided with fees trebling due to state subsidies being cut.

The OU, founded as a Labour project in 1969, has been known as the ‘ university of the second chance’ because it allows mature students to take degrees parttime while working.

Lord Blunkett, who led the education department between 1997 and 2001, said he owed his entire career to part-time studying and called for increased state subsidies for OU students.

He attended a school for the blind that did not offer A-levels and took evening classes for six years while working to get a place at Sheffield University. He said: ‘My experience of lifelong learning, which after part-time study gained me a university place, leads me to believe that maintaining the Open University is essential.

‘ The opportunity of evening classes was a lifeline for me.

‘Restoring funding for part-time students in higher education, removed in 2012, would be a really important and relatively inexpensive way of securing personal liberation for individuals and contribution to the future economy.’

Mrs Powell, who was Labour’s shadow education secretary two years ago, said: ‘The Open University is a British institution, giving people a second chance to learn.

‘It has a proud heritage of supporting people to learn flexibly, fitting in with their work and family commitments, empowering them to further their knowledge and career prospects in their own time and at their own pace.

‘It is now at risk, due to government funding changes which have seen a worrying drop in part-time learners. Ministers made this mess, and it is now up to them to fix it.’

Mr Frith, Labour MP for Bury North, said the OU was a ‘tremendous’ achievement for his party in the post-war years and called for it to be given more help as part of the government’s higher education review this year.

‘The OU offers many mature students a chance to study part-time for a new career while still working and supporting a family,’ he said.

‘The Government’s review of post-18 education must recognise the unique situation of the OU and the important role that parttime learning plays in giving people the chance to retrain and learn new skills and ensure access to lifelong learning whatever your circumstances.’

The intervention of the Labour politicians means the campaign now has the support of figures from every major party.

Tory MP Nicky Morgan and Liberal Democrat leader Vince Cable weighed in on Tuesday. Theresa May and universities minister Sam Gyimah pledged earlier in the week to examine the case as part of this year’s higher education review.

Mr Gyimah pointed out the Government provided £48million to support teaching there in 2017/18.

Professor Cox, who was a pop musician and studied for his degree in physics at Manchester University as a mature student aged 23, said yesterday he ‘profoundly agreed’ with rescuing the OU. He said on Twitter: ‘The Open University is one of our most valuable assets, and must be not only protected but enhanced.’