"It's a case of the regulator not doing its job properly. These colleges don't appear consistent with the OfS requirements on academic freedom and freedom of expression, so they shouldn't have been registered in the first place. The lack of transparency is striking. If institutions are built around enforcing a confessional worldview rather than academic freedom, then they shouldn't be registered by the OfS or receiving public funds."
"Higher education providers in England must register with the OfS to access student loans, and are required to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom. The NSS has told the OfS that it will seek a judicial review to reveal what action it has taken against the colleges, including one whose college law included a provision: To promote the fear of the Almighty God through education and information dissemination."
The National Secular Society is pursuing judicial review against the Office for Students for failing to investigate potential breaches of academic freedom protections at twelve theological colleges. These institutions have received over £80 million through government-backed student loans and £1 million in OfS funding since 2018. The NSS argues the colleges prioritize theological doctrine over academic freedom and should be ineligible for public funding. Despite complaints filed five years ago and multiple contacts since 2021, the OfS has taken no apparent action. Higher education providers in England must register with the OfS to access student loans and are legally required to uphold freedom of speech and academic freedom.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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