In addition to the various crisis in the NHS, EU, Housing, Homelessness, Coronavirus and Crime, we are now also facing an increase in the rate of students dropping out from UK universities which does not augur well for the future. A lot of full-time students taking their first degree under the age of 21 do not continue to study after the first year of their course.
Furthermore, the proportion of mature students (over 21 years) taking their first degree their drop out numbers also increased. The rate of drop-outs varies between different universities like Cambridge, Oxford, Bedfordshire, London Metropolitan University from 1 per cent to 18.3 percent.
Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of the Office for Students, said the data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency “English higher education enjoys internationally high completion rates, but an increase in the proportion of students dropping out is a concern.
“Rates vary significantly between different higher education providers, and a number of providers will need to think seriously about what they can do to reduce these rates.”
Where we have concerns about performance at individual providers, we will continue to take action as necessary to ensure that students from all backgrounds are able to fully realise the many life-changing benefits of higher education.
Michelle Donelan, the newly-appointed universities minister, said, "With high numbers of students continuing to drop out, this data shows progress is slow from some institutions to tackle the issue.”
I think it is time the government upped the ante and addressed the issue of universities dropouts and revisit the question of high tuition fees and students' allowances.
Baldev Sharma
Rayners Lane, Harrow
