NUS ditches its call to scrap fees

The National Union of Students has voted to shift its focus away from demanding free university education.

A motion passed at 바카라사이트 NUS's annual conference in Blackpool last week supports 바카라사이트 principle of free education but says that in 2009, when 바카라사이트 Government is due to review tuition fees, 바카라사이트 union must concentrate on opposing any attempts to lift 바카라사이트 current ?3,000 cap.

Wes Streeting, 바카라사이트 newly elected president, said 바카라사이트 union was not "selling out". He argued that 바카라사이트 more "pragmatic" approach would give 바카라사이트 union more influence in 바카라사이트 debate.

The new policy means 바카라사이트 NUS will be willing to discuss a system of graduate contributions.

It will argue that any graduate contribution should be income-contingent and linked to earnings, not prices, and that student loans must not have commercial interest rates.

A motion passed at 바카라사이트 conference said: "While 바카라사이트 NUS should retain a principled commitment to 바카라사이트 notion of free education, 바카라사이트 focus for 바카라사이트 2009 review must be to secure a fairer funding system for all students, to defeat any attempts to lift 바카라사이트 cap and fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 destructive marketisation of higher education."

The "marketisation" of education lies at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 existing variable fees model and "must be stopped at all costs", 바카라사이트 policy argues.

It says 바카라사이트 bursary system is "complex and deeply inequitable" and that 바카라사이트 NUS will fight for a national bursary scheme.

Mr Streeting told 온라인 바카라: "Although 바카라사이트 NUS remains in principle committed to 바카라사이트 notion of free, publicly funded education, last week delegates from across 바카라사이트 country recognised that in 2009 바카라사이트 debate will be held on different terms. Our membership has made 바카라사이트 conscious and proactive choice to do 바카라사이트 right thing, 바카라사이트 radical thing, and be engaged with 바카라사이트 debate that will actually be taking place."

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.