Meetings
NDM7387 Welsh Conservatives debate - Higher Education
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Meeting: 23/09/2020 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd (Item 12)
Welsh Conservatives debate - Higher Education
NDM7387
Darren Millar (Clwyd West)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Notes the importance of higher and
further education to Wales and its economy.
2. Believes that students deserve value for
money in return for the investment they make in their higher and further
education.
3. Regrets the impact of the coronavirus
pandemic on students in Wales and the interruption to courses.
4. Welcomes the additional financial
resources provided to Welsh colleges and universities to support them through
the pandemic.
5. Notes that there has been no reduction
in fees paid by students to reflect the adverse impact of the pandemic on their
studies.
6. Calls upon the Welsh Government to:
a) work with colleges and universities to
ensure that fees reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their
courses;
b) ensure that students take the
opportunity to access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable
COVID-19 restrictions, through more live streaming;
c) address the concerns of students,
employers, and further and higher education providers in relation to a
narrowing of the syllabus of some courses which contribute towards entry
requirements for colleges and universities.
Amendment 1 Siân
Gwenllian (Arfon)
Delete point 4 and renumber accordingly.
Amendment 2 Rebecca Evans (Gower)
Delete points 5 and 6 and replace with:
Welcomes the efforts of students, colleges
and universities to continue operating safely and effectively in challenging
circumstances over the coming term, and thanks them for their efforts.
Notes the extensive work by colleges and
universities to maintain opportunities to access learning either in person or,
in the event of unavoidable COVID-19 restrictions, through online tuition,
assessment, and support.
Notes the guidance issued by Welsh
Government to support higher and further education providers to prepare for the
new term and open campuses safely.
Guidance for safe operation in post-16 learning from September
2020
Guidance for higher education: Keep Wales Safe (COVID-19)
If Amendment 2 is
agreed, Amendment 3 and 4 will be de-selected
Amendment 3 Siân
Gwenllian (Arfon)
Delete sub-point 6(a) and replace with:
ensure that the higher education sector has
sufficient resources to enable institutions to continue to maintain standards
and to continue to widen access;
Amendment 4 Siân
Gwenllian (Arfon)
Insert as new sub-point 6(b) and renumber
accordingly:
work with the further education and work-based
learning sectors to ensure that they are adequately and sustainably resourced
to provide the best possible learning opportunities, especially to
disadvantaged learners, at this challenging time
Minutes:
The
item started at 17.08
Voting
on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
A
vote was taken on the motion without amendment:
NDM7387 Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
To
propose that the Senedd:
1.
Notes the importance of higher and further education to Wales and its economy.
2.
Believes that students deserve value for money in return for the investment
they make in their higher and further education.
3.
Regrets the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students in Wales and the
interruption to courses.
4.
Welcomes the additional financial resources provided to Welsh colleges and
universities to support them through the pandemic.
5.
Notes that there has been no reduction in fees paid by students to reflect the
adverse impact of the pandemic on their studies.
6.
Calls upon the Welsh Government to:
a)
work with colleges and universities to ensure that fees reflect the impact of
the coronavirus pandemic on their courses;
b)
ensure that students take the opportunity to access learning either in person
or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19 restrictions, through more live
streaming;
c)
address the concerns of students, employers, and further and higher education
providers in relation to a narrowing of the syllabus of some courses which
contribute towards entry requirements for colleges and universities.
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
14 |
2 |
36 |
52 |
The
motion without amendment was not agreed.
The
following amendments were tabled:
Amendment
1 Siân
Gwenllian (Arfon)
Delete
point 4 and renumber accordingly.
A
vote was taken on amendment 1:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
10 |
0 |
42 |
52 |
Amendment
1 was not agreed.
Amendment
2 Rebecca
Evans (Gower)
Delete
points 5 and 6 and replace with:
Welcomes
the efforts of students, colleges and universities to continue operating safely
and effectively in challenging circumstances over the coming term, and thanks
them for their efforts.
Notes
the extensive work by colleges and universities to maintain opportunities to
access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19
restrictions, through online tuition, assessment, and support.
Notes
the guidance issued by Welsh Government to support higher and further education
providers to prepare for the new term and open campuses safely.
Guidance
for safe operation in post-16 learning from September 2020
Guidance
for higher education: Keep Wales Safe (COVID-19)
A
vote was taken on amendment 2:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
28 |
1 |
23 |
52 |
Amendment
2 was agreed.
As
Amendment 2 was agreed, Amendments 3 and 4 were de-selected
A
vote was taken on the motion as amended:
NDM7387 Darren
Millar (Clwyd West)
To
propose that the Senedd:
1.
Notes the importance of higher and further education to Wales and its economy.
2.
Believes that students deserve value for money in return for the investment
they make in their higher and further education.
3.
Regrets the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on students in Wales and the
interruption to courses.
4.
Welcomes the additional financial resources provided to Welsh colleges and
universities to support them through the pandemic.
5.
Welcomes the efforts of students, colleges and universities to continue
operating safely and effectively in challenging circumstances over the coming
term, and thanks them for their efforts.
6.
Notes the extensive work by colleges and universities to maintain opportunities
to access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable COVID-19
restrictions, through online tuition, assessment, and support.
7.
Notes the guidance issued by Welsh Government to support higher and further
education providers to prepare for the new term and open campuses safely.
Guidance
for safe operation in post-16 learning from September 2020
Guidance
for higher education: Keep Wales Safe (COVID-19)
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
30 |
0 |
22 |
52 |
The
motion as amended was agreed.
In
accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 18.11 the Deputy Presiding Officer
suspended the meeting.