UKIP Policies
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Education and Training: UKIP policy
Tuesday, 17th July 2007
UKIP believes it is the responsibility of the State to ensure a quality education is provided for all - regardless of income, age, aptitudes or ability. UKIP recognises that state education simply isn't working, with falling standards, watered down exams, undermining of merit, shortages of skills and devaluation of graduate qualifications. Scroll to the bottom of the page to download the full UKIP Policy.
The main points are as follows:
UKIP will make sure that Schools teach the three Rs effectively as this provides young children with the proper foundation for their school careers.
UKIP believes in parental choice. To guarantee this, UKIP will introduce a “voucher” scheme whereby educational funds equivalent to the average cost of state schooling will follow the child to the school of the family’s choice. This will mean that schools will become much more answerable to the parents for the quality of their education. Parents will be free to use these vouchers in the private or state school sectors.
UKIP will enhance democratic control over education by introducing elected County Education Boards.
UKIP will replace the current funding policy, which favours specialist schools, with one where funds are shared equally regardless of the degree of specialisation.
UKIP will introduce franchising to education across Britain so that charitable associations, parent co-operatives, not-for-profit and profit-making companies can bid to run schools better than the public sector. This will inject the ethos of successful private and state-run schools, whilst fixed assets, accountability and decision-making remain firmly in public hands.
UKIP believes that the right of parents to select a school is pointless unless schools are free to differ from one another. To be free to differ they need to be free to choose their pupils based on their suitability for the education provided.
UKIP believes that Grammar schools have a vital role to play in the education of academically more able children. Therefore, UKIP is committed to the survival of existing grammar schools and will encourage the creation of new grammar and specialist schools.
UKIP will allow schools to select pupils on their suitability for the education provided – putting vocational skills, craft skills and sporting ability on a par with academic ability, There will be no return to the stigma of failing the 11 plus. The academic 11 plus test will be replaced with a ‘comprehensive test to assess merit across a wide range of academic and non-academic abilities. UKIP will call skills-based non-grammar schools ‘professional schools’ and will aim to ensure parity of esteem between these school types.
UKIP believes that the teaching profession should be allowed to do its job with minimal government interference so OfSTED will be abolished and the education departments of the local authorities will be transferred to the control of new elected County Education Boards. The OfSTED powers will be given to the school governing body and a new independent inspectorate of experienced teachers. The National Curriculum will become less prescriptive and schools will have a greater say over subjects taught although key subjects will remain.
UKIP will replace current teacher training with more on–the-job training and will insist on higher qualifications for aspiring teachers.
UKIP will allow parents to trigger a government inspection of a school if 10% of parents initiate this in a referendum. League tables will be made fairer.
UKIP will abandon the policy of ‘inclusion’ and allow parents to choose special schools for children with learning disabilities.
UKIP will abolish social engineering and the Office of Fair Access. Some universities will change back to Skills and Vocational colleges.
UKIP will repeal the 1998 Human Rights Act and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights. We will pass legislation that establishes beyond doubt that schools and teachers have the right to discipline pupils without fearing legal action. UKIP will also give Schools the choice of whether or not to use corporal punishment, but does not advocate this as a party.
UKIP will restore student grants in the form of ‘Student Vouchers’ and ‘Training Vouchers’ as academic ability must be the sole criteria when it comes to going to University. The Vouchers will be equal to a Basic Cash Benefit stipulated in UKIP’s Welfare proposals. The vouchers will be paid by the student to the colleges to be redeemed by the Treasury at one of four levels, dependent on the higher or further education courses. Individuals will be able to use the vouchers at any time in their adult life.
UKIP will denationalise the universities and Further Education colleges so that they set their own high standards of entry, driving up standards throughout schools.
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