An schooling minister has railled in opposition to a system that favours a level in “Harry Potter research” over extra sensible {qualifications} – though there’s little to counsel JK Rowling’s boy wizard is crowding out different topics.
Andrea Jenkyns, minister for expertise, additional and better schooling, advised a fringe occasion on the Conservative Social gathering convention how schooling will not be the “sole protect” of universities.
She argued a “expert fashionable financial system” requires technical expertise as a lot because it wants graduates, and criticised the “present system” for favouring levels in “Harry Potter research”.
To this finish, the Tory frontbencher stated, the federal government is dedicated to cracking down on low-quality college programs.
It’s unclear what exactly Jenkyns is referring to when she raises “Harry Potter research”.
Twelve years in the past, undergraduates on the Durham College had been provided an optionally available 10-week module referred to as Harry Potter and the Age of Phantasm as a part of a BA diploma in schooling research.
Some on Twitter identified whereas there was no proof of anybody at the moment studying “Harry Potter research”, 1000’s of scholars had been learning a topic associated to development.
Jenkyns additionally insisted that in some instances universities feed college students “a food regimen of vital race principle, anti-British historical past and sociological Marxism” and that the federal government is set to supply an alternate.
She advised the Bruges Group occasion: “A talented fashionable financial system competing on the worldwide stage requires technical expertise simply as a lot because it wants graduates.
“But the present system would fairly our younger folks get a level in Harry Potter research than the apprentices shaping development.
“It doesn’t take magic powers to work out that that is unsuitable, which is why the federal government is dedicated to placing the broomstick to good use and finishing up a spring clear of low-quality programs.”
Jenkyns insisted “if a course isn’t offering somebody with a constructive consequence”, it makes “no sense” the federal government “needs to be funding it”.
She added: “I’m decided to make it possible for the talents we give our younger persons are match for the long run, in some instances they merely aren’t getting this at universities.
“They’re being fed a food regimen of vital race principle, anti-British historical past and sociological Marxism, which is why this authorities is set to supply an alternate.”
Jenkyns confronted a backlash final month after she gave the center finger to a crowd exterior Downing Avenue.
The Morley and Outwood MP claimed she was responding to a “baying mob” when she made the gesture.
She was appointed parliamentary below secretary of state within the division for schooling by Boris Johnson in July after he was hit by a wave of ministerial resignations, and was re-appointed by Liz Truss regardless of criticism after video footage emerged of her confronting the gang exterior Quantity 10.
