Student targets ‘breach rights’ – Universities which “discriminate” against private school pupils could be in breach of human rights, a report says. [BBC News]
There is something inherently stupid about this situation. Universities could be in break of the human rights act if they discriminate against public school pupils (in order to admit a larger number of state school pupils).
However, the government has set targets to admit a certain proportion of state school pupils, which, if not met the universities may incur financial penalties (including the loss of the right to charge top-up fees).
Now look at those two paragraphs. How do you both meet targets of admission of state school pupils and not discriminate against public school pupils. If the targets would be met without any form of positive discrimination towards state school pupils the targets wouldn’t exist.
As far as I can see the universities are in a bit of a corner here. Whatever they do they loose out somehow.
