Firsts among equals

According to the Sunday Times:

External examiners will be given the power to force universities to lower the grades they award students in England but not in Scotland under plans to address concerns over falling standards in higher education.

David Willetts, the shadow universities minister, said a Conservative government would act in response to fears that degrees are being devalued, but the SNP has no plans to introduce similar measures.

Are the fears of Mr Willetts justified?

I think so. I don't believe for a moment that university (and school) standards are rising as claimed. What we see here is a producer class (that word again) manipulating the statistics to serve its own interests. The solution is to put power in the hands of the consumers of education. All universities should be privatised, as should all schools. If education is to be subsidised by the taxpayer, not that it should of course, let it be by means of vouchers. It's essential to get the state out of the production of education.

We'd then see just how much one of Mr Willetts' own bizarre proposals would be worth in the real world:

As well as being awarded a degree classification, students would also be given an achievement report, listing strengths and weaknesses in particular modules, qualities relating to project work, presentations, group work, dissertations and timed examinations. It could also include details of extracurricular activities, volunteering, work experience and professional recognition.

An "achievement report" produced by the current education establishment would almost certainly include compulsory Gaia-worship and render almost all students unemployable for life.