Universities minister hits out at woke courses for students

‘Its decolonising nonsense’: Universities minister hits out at woke courses for students

• Robert Halfon said inserting critical race theory into maths was not social justice
• British lecturers are being advised to teach subjects such as ‘white supremacy’ 
• Left wing activists have succeeded on getting decolonisation onto the agenda
• Colleges are free to accept or ignore the new left wing curriculum advice  

The new universities minister has blasted the ‘decolonisation’ of courses as ‘nonsense’ after lecturers were told to ‘go woke’ by the degrees watchdog.

In his first speech since taking the role, Robert Halfon said inserting critical race theory into courses such as computing and maths was not ‘real social justice’.

He was commenting on the Daily Mail’s investigation which revealed all universities were being asked to teach topics such as ‘white supremacy’.

For the first time, the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), which checks on course standards, has incorporated ‘decolonising’ into its recommendations. Yesterday, it also emerged that Chloe Field, who heads up the Left-wing National Union of Students, sits on the QAA board.

Compliance is voluntary, but it is expected many lecturers will take on board the QAA’s advice. The move shows how much the radical ideology of student activists has become woven into the fabric of British higher education. The Campaign for Real Education said it was the equivalent of telling universities to ‘go woke’. Even the Office for Students (OfS), which the QAA reports to, disowned the scheme.

New universities minister Robert Halfon said inserting critical race theory into courses such as computing and maths was not ‘real social justice’

Referring to the Mail’s story, Mr Halfon said: ‘Real social justice is about closing our skills gap and helping students into good jobs – not the decolonising nonsense that we see in the media. I am glad the OfS has said it does not support this.’

He said universities should instead be focusing on preventing disadvantaged students dropping out and underperforming in their degrees.

Mr Halfon added: ‘We have a moral obligation to intervene on disadvantaged students’ behalf, to level the playing field – both in welcoming them to university, and ensuring they receive the support they need on campus.

‘Social justice means giving everyone the chance to climb the ladder of opportunity, whatever their background.’

The latest advice from the QAA is incorporated into 25 new ‘subject benchmarks’, which describe what it thinks students should study and the standards they should meet.

The benchmarks include new instructions on ‘equality, diversity and inclusion’ for each subject. In one bizarre example, the QAA says computing courses should address how ‘hierarchies of colonial value’ are ‘reinforced’ in the field. Classics courses should explain the connections between the subject and ‘imperialism, colonialism, white supremacy and class division’.

Students at Oriel College, Oxford marched against Cecil Rhodes, a major colonial figure

The QAA is run by Vicki Stott, who has campaigned on LGBT+ and other social issues in previous jobs.

It also has on its board Miss Field, who is vice-president of higher education at the NUS and is currently in charge after the sacking of its president amid an anti-Semitism row.

The QAA said: ‘Subject benchmark statements do not mandate set approaches to teaching, learning or assessment.

‘It’s up to the individual academics and their departments whether or how closely they follow this guidance.’

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