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Senior MP: Students don't work hard enough
12 Nov 2009The chairman of the Commons Education Select Committee today said students in UK universities do not work hard enough.
Labour's Barry Sheerman said he hoped widening access to universities for working class youngsters will help improve the amount of effort put in by students.
Higher Education Minister David Lammy declined to comment on Mr Sheerman's assessment of students' work ethic.
Mr Sheerman (Huddersfield) said: "I have been campaigning for fair access for many years.
"But can we ensure that that fair access means students are suitably qualified, that they can speak and write English properly and they can work a bit harder than the average student in our universities, who don't at this moment work hard enough?"
At Commons question time Mr Lammy said he hoped Mr Sheerman would welcome plans to use "contextual data" taking account of a candidate's background when considering university admissions.
He added: "I think it's best that I leave your words of advice to students to you, which is a point only you can make."
