5. Statement by the Minister For Education: Update on Education Provision

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:20 pm on 3 June 2020.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 3:20, 3 June 2020

Can I thank you for your statement today, Minister? I think many people will be very pleased that schools are going to be reopening. Can I just ask for a little bit more clarification in terms of the under-fives, and particularly those children that are nursery-aged children in school-based nurseries? What provision is going to be in place for them under these arrangements?

And secondly, one area that you didn't provide an update on today was in terms of Welsh universities. Many students feel that they're getting a very rough deal from universities in return for their tuition fees at the moment. Obviously, for a significant time now, they've been doing their courses through distance learning. I took the opportunity to have a look on the Open University website today and for an equivalent of a full year's worth of education in the Open University, it would cost just over £2,000 for that, whereas Welsh universities are still charging the £9,000 rate. Is that something that you're hoping to be able to address in the future? I know that you've given financial support for universities, but you haven't for students as yet.