A recent petition has highlighted the crucial need for a legal duty of care for students in higher education.
- The LEARN Network, comprised of bereaved parents, initiated the petition following tragic student suicides.
- The initiative has gained significant traction, amassing over 128,000 signatures urging governmental debate.
- Statistics reveal alarming rates of suicidal behaviour among students, stressing the urgency for action.
- The Government is now compelled to address this critical issue, recognising the absence of statutory duty.
The petition titled ‘Create statutory legal duty of care for students in Higher Education’ reached an impressive 128,191 signatures by midnight on Mother’s Day. Now, the Government must deliberate on holding a parliamentary debate. This campaign is spearheaded by The LEARN Network, a group of grieving parents whose children’s lives were lost to suicide during their university studies. They contend that these deaths could have been averted if the institutions had adhered to a defined duty of care.
According to the 2018 report by Dr. Nicola Byrom from King’s College London, universities display a lack of understanding regarding ‘duty of care’. This gap contributes to staff stress and compromises student safety. The statistics present a grim picture: annually, 3.2% of students attempt suicide, 6.1% plan suicide, and 25% experience suicidal thoughts. In light of these figures, The LEARN Network advocates for a sector-wide debate to address these critical issues surrounding student welfare.
Lee Fryatt, a prominent figure in The LEARN Network and the petition’s architect, tragically lost his son Daniel to suicide. He stresses that a proper understanding and execution of duty of care might have saved his son. Fryatt argues that universities, who exert significant control over students’ circumstances, must act responsibly to safeguard mental health. Considerations about a student’s mental health should prioritise all decision-making processes, demanding a formalised legal stance.
The LEARN Network emphasises the special relationship between universities and their students, viewing these institutions as crucial in guiding young adults to success. However, they lament that for many, this transition becomes a perilous descent due to the mental health crisis pervasive among youth. The Network insists that universities must bolster support for students facing academic and personal hurdles, ensuring they complete their education successfully.
Upon reaching 10,000 signatures, the Government responded that higher education providers have a general duty not to harm students. However, The LEARN Network refutes this, citing the Abrahart vs The University of Bristol case (2022), where it was confirmed that no statute obligates universities to uphold such a duty. This legal ambiguity underscores the Network’s call for a clarifying debate, crucial not only for governmental acknowledgment but for setting an enforceable care standard.
The LEARN Network’s petition underscores an urgent call for legislative clarity on the duty of care, aiming to safeguard student well-being.
