Too little, too late

Government guidance on reopening campuses comes late in the day for universities and students

Playbook is counting the cost of its cynicism this morning. Having kept close tabs on the government’s record when announcing higher education policy, we placed a significant amount of money on plans for the full reopening of university campuses on 17 May not being announced until 11.59pm on 16 May at the earliest. Oh we of little faith.

In fact, universities and students in England were given a full six and a half days’ notice, with universities minister Michelle Donelan announcing at 5pm yesterday that “all remaining students can return to in-person teaching from 17 May as part of Step 3 of the government’s roadmap”.