The parents of a student who took her own life have slammed a Government decision not to tighten up the law requiring universities to have a legal duty of care for their students. Natasha Abrahart's parents, who live in West Bridgford, said the Government was ‘ducking the issue’ in their response to the campaign.
The Abraharts are one of 25 bereaved families who helped launch a parliamentary petition last October, calling on ministers to pass legislation to better protect students and arguing that their mental health, safety and wellbeing should be a government priority. The petition followed a court ruling when the University of Bristol was ordered to pay £50,000 in compensation by the County Court for the way they treated the 20-year-old physics student.
But the Department for Education said higher education providers owe a 'duty of care to not cause harm to their students through the university's own actions'. The Abraharts have called for the government to establish a statutory duty of care.
