§ 32. Mr. Viggersasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the current age participation rate into full-time higher education; what was the figure for 1978–79; and how it compares with the figure for other major industrial countries.
§ Mr. BrookeFor 1982–83, the age participation rate for young home entrants to full-time higher education in Great Britain is provisionally estimated at 13.5 per cent. That for 1978–79 was 12.4 per cent.
A direct comparison with the rates for full-time education in other countries would not be valid because of differences in the educational systems — lengths of course, availability of part-time education, and so on. A more comparable measure of participation, evolved by the OECD, is illustrated in the following table which takes all new entrants to higher education, including those wishing to study part-time, as a proportion of the numbers in the most relevant age group:
International comparison of the percentage of the relevant age group entering higher education in 1976–77* New entrants as a percentage of relevant population Age group per cent. Japan 18 39.2 France 18.20 27.7 Federal Republic of Germany 19.21 19.2 Italy 19.21 30.6 United Kingdom (1977–78) 18.19 30.5 * This is the latest year for which these statistics are available.