History needs more than warm words from Michael Gove
25 November 2011
UCU today said Michael Gove's calls for more history to be taught at school looked foolish when put alongside government policies that have seen funding for history at university slashed and a drop in the number of history degree courses now on offer.
Responding to speeches by the education secretary at Cambridge University and this week's History in Education conference in London, the union said it welcomed the minister's support for the subject but questioned how, as an 'unashamed and unapologetic advocate for the central role of history in our curriculum', he could support the government axing teaching grants for the arts and humanities.
The withdrawal of state funding for the arts and humanities has resulted in fewer history courses being on offer for applicants in 2012 - the first year of the new funding regime.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Removing funding for arts and humanities degree courses will put subjects like history seriously at risk. If Mr Gove really is an "unapologetic advocate for history" he needs his government to urgently reverse punitive funding cuts for arts and humanities courses.
'The arts and the humanities are vital for our society and our economy and it is tragedy that the government's reforms risk closing off the likes of history as a subject for university study.'
The withdrawal of state funding for the arts and humanities has resulted in fewer history courses being on offer for applicants in 2012 - the first year of the new funding regime.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'Removing funding for arts and humanities degree courses will put subjects like history seriously at risk. If Mr Gove really is an "unapologetic advocate for history" he needs his government to urgently reverse punitive funding cuts for arts and humanities courses.
'The arts and the humanities are vital for our society and our economy and it is tragedy that the government's reforms risk closing off the likes of history as a subject for university study.'
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