UK: University Background Checks to Cut Number of Middle-Class Students
21st December 2011
Figures suggest almost two thirds of universities will use data covering students’ social class, parental education or school performance next year to give the most disadvantaged candidates a better chance of getting on to degree courses.
In the old Soviet Union, much the same vetting was done to make sure that students with a proper ‘worker or peasant’ background got preference over people who had the poor judgment to pick accomplished or successful parents. We know how that turned out. Unfortunately, those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it.