Anas Sarwar has said focusing on the “forgotten 60%” of kids who do not go to university will be a top priority if he becomes First Minister. The Scottish Labour leader said young people should not be defined by their school grades and backed a major investment in non-uni options.
Official figures show that around 37 per cent of youngsters opted for higher education in 2022/23 after leaving school.
Sarwar, speaking to the Record during the UK Labour conference in Liverpool, said he would retain free university tuition but wanted to widen the opportunities for all young people.
He backed the last Labour Government’s expansion of higher education, but said a “culture” has been created which stigmatises people who do not get a degree.
He is sympathetic to creating a university-style clearing system for apprenticeships, starting businesses and other options. He said: “On the next generation of Scots, I want us to think about the forgotten 60%.
“We are not going to reverse the decision on free tuition. We support free tuition.”
“But let’s be really honest. There is significant investment that goes in from the public for those that choose to go to university, but what about the 60% of kids that don’t go to university? I don’t think there is anywhere near as much focus, investment and infrastructure in place to support those children and that’s where I want the fundamental change.”
He said his reforms would see the public, private and voluntary sectors come together to create a new system: “How do we get them all working together in Scotland to create an infrastructure for those 60% of kids who do not go to university? For me, that is the fundamental gap we have to address.”
Sarwar said it is a “pretence” to suggest that “somehow the only successful route is if you choose to go to university”. He added: “There are so many other great things children can do that are fulfilling, supports their health and wellbeing, gives a good income and breaks the cycle of poverty. That’s why that’s going to be a real focus on us.”
“We have this culture in Scotland where university is seen as success and everything else is seen as being an under-achievement. We’ve got to break that cycle.”
He added: “We shouldn’t pretend school grades aren’t important, but again I think there is a risk when we think about the attainment gap, or thinking about universities, that we make it sound like success and failure is judged by a kid and the grades they get when they are 16 and 17 years old.
“Why should a grade that a child gets when they are sixteen and seventeen judge the outcomes for them when they are 25, 35, 45 and 55?”
He continued: “The single biggest challenge we face in Scotland for young people is we have an opportunity gap where your life chances and your life outcomes are driven by where you were born or your background.”
Sarwar is looking at Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s plan for new “education pathways” for young people. More broadly, the next Holyrood election is less than two years away and opinion polls show Sarwar is in line to become the next FM.
But decisions like the Labour Government cutting the Winter Fuel Payment for older people have drained his party of support.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to deliver a Budget of tax rises and spending cuts in October and Scottish Labour figures are worried about the impact on Sarwar.
Sarwar said of the Budget: “We have to win the argument on the public finances. We have to win the argument that we are moving on from the mess left by the Tories and building a more stable economy, fixing the foundations for a purpose, so we can deliver more and achieve more. And that is what the Budget will be about on October 30th.”
He said other priorities for the next six months will be developing policy and further strengthening the party infrastructure. Holyrood candidates are expected to be selected next year, with declarations of interest invited first.
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