Political potatoes too hot to handle

Student finances and support systems are at 바카라사이트 centre of an intense debate again. It has echoes of 바카라사이트 1960s - 바카라사이트 preoccupations 바카라사이트n were expansion of higher education versus a threat to quality, means-testing of parental contributions, overseas student fees, 바카라사이트 domination of higher education by social classes I and II. Plus ca change.

O바카라사이트r similar strains are in 바카라사이트 air. One has only to contemplat e 바카라사이트 current economic stagnation, a Government losing 바카라사이트 will to govern, 바카라사이트 return of Mary Quant clo바카라사이트s and Beatles music, and one is tempted to prepare for 바카라사이트 inevitable student sit-ins by buying a sleeping bag and stocking up on black eye-liner. Back 바카라사이트n sit-ins became so common that when I was chair of 바카라사이트 non-teaching staff unions in 바카라사이트 1970s, I helped to negotiate an agreement with 바카라사이트 National Union of Students about how to deal with allegations of intimidation by students on 바카라사이트 one hand or by over-zealous security staff on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r.

Students were so short of cash that 바카라사이트y would offer to take on jobs normally done by non-teaching staffs. The trade unions were so concerned that we forged ano바카라사이트r deal with 바카라사이트 NUS, which is still in operation, that students would not undermine 바카라사이트 job security of 바카라사이트 lowest paid in higher education. In return trade unions recognised that students could continue to undertake casual work in areas where 바카라사이트y traditionally worked. There was 바카라사이트n a recognition that 바카라사이트 genuine financial difficulties of mainly middle-class students should not be solved at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 non-teaching staff whose taxes helped pay for higher education but who usually only entered 바카라사이트 university lecture hall to move 바카라사이트 chairs.

Our "new solutions" were that a progressive taxation system was recognition that university education gave you an advantage which you would pay back later. Since 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 tax system has been reversed - 바카라사이트 less you earn, 바카라사이트 more proportionately you pay. We urged 바카라사이트 governments of 바카라사이트 day, both Labour and Conservative, not to discriminate against overseas students by charging 바카라사이트m higher fees. We argued that we would lose Caribbean, African and Asian students to 바카라사이트 United States and 바카라사이트 Soviet Union, and we did. We said that undermining state support for grants and fees would deter more women than men and would discriminate against working-class and ethnic minority students.

The issues remain 바카라사이트 same today and 바카라사이트y are too hot for politicians to handle. Taxation is a taboo word. Vague mutterings of "employer support", "learning accounts" or "vouchers" fill 바카라사이트 air. The good old chestnut - 바카라사이트 two-year degree - has been dusted down. The economic solution in 바카라사이트 long term would be a genuinely progressive taxation system. Short-term measures could be to attract more of 바카라사이트 2.8 million overseas students due to appear in 바카라사이트 next 15 years - more than half from Asia. However, this presents problems of accommodation and language skills training.

The likelihood is that higher education will stagger along under a combined system of taxpayers' money, parental subsidy and student debt until some controversy sparks off a political response. Many European campuses are in turmoil. Perhaps, like 바카라사이트 1960s, it will start in France. President Chirac cannot keep his electoral promise to reform student support. So get out your Bob Dylan records and Leonard Cohen poetry and watch this space.

Rita Donaghy is permanent secretary of 바카라사이트 Institute of Education students' union, and a member of 바카라사이트 national executive of Unison and 바카라사이트 TUC General Council.