Editorial Comment

Any publication of the Planning Council is important because it provides an insight into expected new government policy. What makes this report so significant, for those at universities and teachers' colleges, it that many of the proposals are actually being implemented or are well along the pipe line.

For universities the Council recommends the reduction of the range of courses which is in tune with the Minister of Education's proposal of closing down small departments like Romance Languages. Its recommendation of disestablishing teaching posts is already happening.

Of particular significance is the Council's recognition that the cuts in university expenditure mean dropping the open entry principle and replacing it with restricted entry. This will be done by reducing access to particular courses, restricting the numbers admitted, more demanding entry criteria, probably by replacing UE with Seventh Form entry, and by increating fees follwing the precedent set through the discriminatory fees for overseas students.

The Council's hint that loans should be introduced is very relevant at the moment. Both the Department of Education and Treasury have been urging the adoption of some form of loans scheme.

Predictably the Council calls for the ending of allowances for teacher trainees and placing them on the STB. One wonders whether it is a mere coincidence that the Report of the Review of Teacher Training, compiled by those who are actually educationalists rather than redeployed economists, which is expected to recommend the retention of the allowances has been "delayed" until after the budget.

The role of the Planning Council is to act as the mouthpiece of Government when the latter requires it. This report shows that in this regard the Council is performing its function very well — perhaps too well.

Ian Powell