Iraq debate delay ordered

Students have postponed the debate on Iraq

College chiefs have told students in Devon that they will have to postpone a debate on the Iraq crisis.

They say that while Ofsted inspectors are in the building, it would not be appropriate to hold a debate.

The National Union of Students at Exeter College had been expecting up to 100 people for the debate on Wednesday.

But it has been told that it must hold the debate after the inspectors leave.

It would not be appropriate for it to be held while the inspectors are here

Principal Richard Atkins

NUS spokesman Humza Ahmad said: "It appears that we are not allowed to have an opinion.

"It does not seem fair at an age when you can join the army and die for your country, that you cannot debate the issues."

The union had been expecting to hold the debate in the college's conference centre and had informed the college authorities.

But Principal Richard Atkins said that with Ofsted inspectors at the college for a mock inspection, he could not sanction the debate.

Bias concerns

He had told the students to postpone the debate until the inspectors had left on 20 February.

He said: "We have no problem with students being interested in key political issues.

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"But we said it would not be appropriate for it to be held while the inspectors are here.

"It would not have been conducive to the smooth operation of the college.

"We also wanted to make sure it was not going to be biased.

"We did not want it to be organised without our direct involvement."

The tertiary college has about 3,000 students aged 14 -18, along with a number of adult students.