This article addresses the conundrum caused by reduction of funding towards public higher education which was initially developed in order to further democratisation and allow full participation of all citizens to higher education and the development of neoliberalism which presents higher education as: ‘personal responsibility’ thus promoting social stratification and benefiting those financially capable of affording high fees.

It is ironic that today’s society is promoting the decolonisation of private institutions that were created and funded from benefactions generated by profits from plantation slavery and expansion of the kingdom. While slaves and their descents were denied education yet toiling and advancing slaves’ masters and their descents status within society.

Is ‘decolonisation’ of both institution and curriculum a form of reparation to BAME in UK and African Americans in US from past social injustices?

As the article states, the removal of state funding towards public higher education institutions that used to offer cheap or affordable access yet offered high educational value is today being replaced by fees and the rise of for-profit institutions that offer poor educational value and mostly serve BAME. I can attest to that as I studied both my HND and BA in Business in one of those institutions here in UK. 100% of students were BAME who all funded their studies through student loans as the fees were as high as university fees. The entry requirements were almost non-existent, and the majority of students were barely computer literate and could not understand or fluently speak English, yet most students passed and were awarded their degrees.

The higher education landscape looks more like a money-making machine that still benefits those is higher social classes, it is still highly racialised as most BAME do not aim for higher education because of lack of funding and attainment the gap is still high compared to white students and oversea students from elite social backgrounds.

‘The key reason for this is the 23.4% attainment gap between white and black undergraduate students obtaining a first class or 2:1 degree needed for postgrad courses. There is also a financial barrier: just 1.2% of 19,868 PhD studentships went to black or black-mixed students between 2016/17 and 2018/19.’ (The Guardian, 2021)

Murray, S., (2021). ‘Real change is needed’: addressing the BAME postgrad attainment gap. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/feb/16/real-change-is-needed-addressing-the-bame-postgrad-attainment-gap. Accessed on the 20.03.2023