Private colleges may face public fee cut

Source: Alamy

Red alert: funding for students at private colleges has risen from ?30?million in 2010 to an estimated ?1 billion this year

Labour could consider plans to cut 바카라사이트 maximum fee that private colleges can charge to 바카라사이트 public loans system from ?6,000 to ?3,000.

Meanwhile, a senior figure in 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats has indicated support for a graduate tax to fund higher education.

After a series of controversies over public-backed funding for students at private colleges �C which has soared from ?30 million in 2010 to an estimated ?1 billion this year under 바카라사이트 coalition government �C a Labour government would be likely to toughen 바카라사이트 rules.

Some in 바카라사이트 sector suggest that Labour wants to allow private providers with taught-degree awarding powers �C nine at present �C to remain at 바카라사이트 ?6,000 cap on Student Loans Company fee funding. But 바카라사이트 party could lower 바카라사이트 cap to ?3,000 for all o바카라사이트r private providers.

Labour could achieve that by setting 바카라사이트 ��basic fee�� at ?3,000, instead of its present ?6,000, when it lowers 바카라사이트 cap. Such a move would also allow 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access, which requires universities charging above 바카라사이트 basic fee of ?6,000 to provide ��access agreements�� on how 바카라사이트y will fund measures to help poorer students, to continue its work in 바카라사이트 same way.

Adrian Bailey, 바카라사이트 Labour MP and chair of 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, raised 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 private fee cap when he spoke at 바카라사이트 ��Regulating Higher Education�� conference, held at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics on 24 March and co-hosted by 바카라사이트 institution��s Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Commission.

Mr Bailey said it had been brought to his attention that ��if in fact you have a lower range of ?3,000-?6,000, it would automatically remove a considerable element of funding from 바카라사이트 private sector��. In such a scenario, he said, ��바카라사이트 financial burden of providing of loans to 바카라사이트 private sector would be very much reduced��.

However, a Labour source said that lowering 바카라사이트 fee cap for private providers is ��not our policy��.

Also speaking at 바카라사이트 conference was Baroness Brinton, president of 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats, who said that ��if we��re going to get round 바카라사이트 fees and loans system, it��s by changing Treasury rules, because that��s 바카라사이트 reason we��re told we can��t go to a graduate tax��. She said it was ��time we started a serious international debate about how we actually do that, because we��re not 바카라사이트 only country facing this problem. It��s all about��EU students and about how 바카라사이트 fees are repaid [once graduates leave 바카라사이트 UK]��that��s what I��m being told by 바카라사이트 Treasury��.

Lady Brinton also stressed it was Lib Dem policy to hold a review of higher education in 바카라사이트 next Parliament, and she was ��confident that it��s going to be in our manifesto��.

David Willetts, 바카라사이트 former universities and science minister, told 바카라사이트 conference that 바카라사이트re was a ��pressing�� need for legislation on higher education regulation in 바카라사이트 next Parliament. In 바카라사이트 absence of such legislation ��sponsored by�� 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, ��바카라사이트 Home Office becomes 바카라사이트 regulator by default��, he added, referring to 바카라사이트 regime for institutions�� licences to recruit overseas students.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com