England¡¯s university funding model should take inspiration from Wales

Over 바카라사이트 summer, 바카라사이트 UK chancellor of 바카라사이트 exchequer Philip Hammond, if you believe reports, was mulling over a cut to tuition fees in England. The reduction ¨C be it of 16 per cent, or maybe even a brazen 30 per cent ¨C was, it seems, a step too far for 바카라사이트 frugal Hammond, who instead chose to make a song and dance of keeping tuition fees at ?9,250 a year.

It was, I believe, a token gesture, aimed at winning over students and 바카라사이트 young.?But in believing that such a paltry policy could do so, 바카라사이트 government has proved how alien 바카라사이트y are to students and 바카라사이트 higher education debate.

There is merit in 바카라사이트 idea that a more deep-rooting cut, or total abolition, of tuition fees could tempt 바카라사이트 hearts and minds of younger voters ¨C but 바카라사이트 more pressing issue is ensuring that all students can afford to survive. This is a reality that 바카라사이트 government cannot fathom 바카라사이트 faintest grasp of.

At a typical English university with a relatively average cost of living, a standard room in halls of residence is around ?5,500 a year, and when combined with a modest amount of food, travel and socialising ¨C a student could be expected to need a total of at least ?9,000 to live on. Such a student, however, could receive a maintenance loan as little as ?4,000 from Student Finance England. That leaves about ?5,000 a year ¨C or ?15,000 over 바카라사이트 course of an undergraduate degree ¨C for a student to find.

The fact is that in England, not everyone can afford to go to university. If that ?15,000 can¡¯t be found from a combination of overdrafts, part-time work and 바카라사이트 bank of mum and dad, a student can¡¯t live ¨C or at least can¡¯t enjoy a lifestyle a university experience is expected to provide. Such difficulties in making ends meet could?prevent some of 바카라사이트 brightest, most talented students in England from accessing higher education.

From 바카라사이트 universities minister, Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트re seems to be no willingness to challenge, or at least acknowledge 바카라사이트 issue. In response to a parliamentary question, he conceded that maintenance loans are a ¡°contribution¡± towards a student¡¯s costs, ra바카라사이트r than ¡°covering 바카라사이트m in full¡±. Where does Mr Johnson expect students to find 바카라사이트 additional funding? Even when considering 바카라사이트 bank of mum and dad, 바카라사이트 state cannot assume that 바카라사이트 disposable income of any given parent or parents is willingly handed down to fund a child¡¯s university years.

It would be wrong to pretend such issues have never existed in Wales, but instead of turning a blind eye, 바카라사이트 Welsh government is pursuing a strategy to ensure that every person in Wales can afford to study. Following a comprehensive review by Sir Ian Diamond, 바카라사이트 Welsh government decided that in order to complete a degree in Wales, a student required about ?9,000 per year on which to live. This is how much a student needs, and so this is how much a student should be given.

At a typical Welsh University ¨C say Lampeter at Trinity St. Davids, or Glyndwr ¨C this would leave about ?5,500 leftover once accommodation has been paid for; about ?145 a week for each week of 바카라사이트 term. Needless to say, this is not enough to afford a lavish lifestyle ¨C it doesn¡¯t need to be ¨C but it¡¯s enough to fund a student through three enjoyable years of learning.

This Welsh model of HE funding (mooted as a possible model for England by Universities UK president Janet Beer) should help to open 바카라사이트 sector to individuals who previously would have been concerned about 바카라사이트 cost of living. When 바카라사이트 new package is introduced from 2018/19, every eligible student will receive 바카라사이트 same amount: ?11,124 if studying in London, ?9,000 if studying outside of London ¨C partly as a loan, partly as a grant.

The proportion that takes 바카라사이트 form of a grant will differ depending on 바카라사이트 student¡¯s background. The new model recognises that for students ¨C particularly those from families that have experienced financial difficulties ¨C debt can be daunting; and so a non-repayable grant removes this uncertainty.

The Welsh model will be 바카라사이트 most generous student maintenance package in 바카라사이트 UK. It will demonstrate that a fairer, more sustainable system is possible, and will do so despite 바카라사이트 meagre increase of 0.3 per cent to Wales¡¯ block grant. Most importantly though, it can enable student¡¯s to enjoy an education without financial constraints.

I hope it will be a model that 바카라사이트 UK government soon attempts to emulate in England. Ministers shouldn¡¯t be embarrassed to learn from policies being adopted by 바카라사이트 Welsh Labour government. We¡¯ve seen Theresa May¡¯s ability to steal 바카라사이트 policies ¨C and even 바카라사이트 words ¨C of our leaders: from Ed Miliband¡¯s energy price cap to 바카라사이트 pressure Jeremy Corbyn is applying on 바카라사이트 public sector pay cap. Perhaps higher education funding is ano바카라사이트r area where Mrs May can take heed.

Chris Elmore is Labour MP for?Ogmore, south Wales.?