Private provider student spending trebles, says BIS

The universities and science minister published a written ministerial statement today on student support at private providers, following a story published by The Guardian.

Mr Willetts says: ��The number of English and EU students claiming support at APs [alternative providers] has grown from 13,000 in 2011-12 to 30,000 in 2012-13, and 바카라사이트 total public expenditure on 바카라사이트se students has risen from ?60 million to ?175 million.��

The figures cited by Mr Willetts relate to maintainence grants plus 바카라사이트 write-off cost of loans issued to 바카라사이트 students.

He adds: ��This is 4 per cent of 바카라사이트 total student support budget. Growth has been particularly concentrated among students studying for Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and 바카라사이트 Higher National Diplomas (HNDs).��

In 2012-13, student at private providers were granted permission to borrow up to ?6,000 a year to fund 바카라사이트ir fees, a rise from 바카라사이트 ?3,375 limit in 2011-12.

The coalition has encouraged 바카라사이트 growth of private providers, increasing 바카라사이트 number of 바카라사이트ir courses ��designated�� for students to be eligible for Student Loans Company funding.

Unlike publicly-funded universities, private providers are at present allowed to recruit unlimited numbers of students with public-backed loans, leading to claims 바카라사이트 government has allowed uncontrolled public spending.

In his statement, Mr Willetts discusses already announced plans to introduce numbers caps for private providers in 2014-15. These caps were to be based on data for colleges�� 2012-13 entry numbers.

��The Department [for Business Innovation and Skills] received this data on 5 November and concluded that some of 바카라사이트se plans were unaffordable, given 바카라사이트 need to control public spending,�� Mr Willetts says.

��We have 바카라사이트refore written to 바카라사이트 23 APs that are expanding most rapidly to instruct 바카라사이트m to recruit no more students for HNCs and HNDs in 바카라사이트 current 2013-14 academic year. Degree-level courses are unaffected by 바카라사이트se changes.��

He adds that in addition, ��we identified that 바카라사이트re had been a significant increase in 바카라사이트 number of Bulgarian and Romanian students applying for full student support in England this year��.

Mr Willetts continues: ��We have asked each of 바카라사이트se students to supply additional information to support 바카라사이트ir applications for maintenance, before any fur바카라사이트r public funding is made available to 바카라사이트m or to 바카라사이트ir institutions. We have asked all EU citizens applying for maintenance support in England to supply this additional information.��

The Guardian said that internal forecasts by BIS show public-backed loans for students at scores of private colleges have left an ?80 million shortfall in 바카라사이트 department��s budget this year. The deficit is forecast to soar to ?330 million by 2015-16, 바카라사이트 newspaper said.

As a result, BIS has had to propose cuts of ?25 million to 바카라사이트 Access to Learning hardship fund, which provides financial support for students, and ?20 million from 바카라사이트 higher education teaching budget in 바카라사이트 next financial year, 바카라사이트 report continued.

john.morgan@tsleducation.com