Tuition Fees

Time for me to be controversial again. In light of the protests over the tuition fees increase there's no better time to debate what the fees actually mean. Based on the plans for tuition fees alone, I see no problem with the plans for increasing tuition fees. My problem with it is the reduction in funding for Higher Education alongside it.

What the Conservatives are proposing is increasing the tuition fee cap from around £3,000 to £6,000 but crucially, they have put in a system which makes it considerably easier on those who come out of university with poorly paid jobs or even reasonably paid jobs. The minimum wage to start repaying money owed to the government has shifted up to £21,000 which is £6,000 a year more than under the current system and there is no interest on the loans when earning underneath the minimum. Those universities who do decide to charge over the £6,000 cap are expected to contribute to a £150m scholarship for poor students. This seems to me like the balancing of an overly sympathetic system.

I fail to see why high earning families should not seek to support their children through higher education the same way they support them in primary and secondary. Parents in the United States save all their lives to put their children through university. I'm not saying that should happen but there should be the same concept of support at least instead of the 'throw them in the deep end' policy currently upheld by many.

It is important that I stress this is not a blog attacking the attitudes of parents or the upper classes in Britain. But simply a defence of a heavily criticised policy that I feel few understand fully. My real issue is why the government insists on reducing university budgets by a staggering 40% when so many are having to turn to them to further their education in the hope of getting a job.

Another problem is the distinct lack of clarity on this issue. Yes the rise in tuition fees means it will cost more but I do not believe that either Clegg or Cameron has adequately explained what the changes to the system actually mean. However I will defend them regardless as I sincerely doubt that the Labour party has any real suggestions on what to do, judging by Harriet Harman's shameless resort to university freshers week comparisons.

The combination of the cuts and the rise in fees will only be detrimental to higher education in the UK. The government, now more than ever should maintain heavy financial support to universities. They should seek to balance out the system where necessary to create a fairer process and allow those less fortunate the opportunities that the fortunate receive. The UK faces severe economic difficulties and it is the fortunate who will have to suffer a lack of financial support. Something they can cope perfectly well without. The current government needs to be clear about its intentions if it is to survive the next election.