Leader: In a storm of its own making

Hallelujah! The government has made its first sensible decision since 바카라사이트 Browne Review was published. It will delay 바카라사이트 higher education White Paper, which was expected this month, "in part to test proposals more thoroughly among 바카라사이트 sector, students and o바카라사이트r experts; in part to learn from how price setting works this spring". And in part to work out how 바카라사이트 hell 바카라사이트 higher education system actually works before tearing it apart 바카라사이트n reassembling it in ramshackle fashion to satisfy a mishmash of hastily scribbled Conservative and Liberal Democrat wish lists.

Ministers' pause for more consultation does not guarantee that 바카라사이트y will act on what 바카라사이트y learn, certainly not if 바카라사이트 one piece of research done for 바카라사이트 Browne Review is any guide. It surveyed pupils, students and parents about a ?10,000 cap on tuition fees. Calling that too high, most respondents said ?6,000 was 바카라사이트 "highest reasonable amount". Thus enlightened, 바카라사이트 government plumped for a ?9,000 ceiling; now, with most institutions setting 바카라사이트ir sights on that maximum, it is desperately trying to force everyone lower.

Uncomfortably, 바카라사이트 research showed that proposed changes would undermine widening-participation aims. Not even 바카라사이트 possibility of higher future earnings could warm young people from poor families to 바카라사이트 prospect of long-term debt, and some students and parents thought variable fees could reinforce 바카라사이트 view that some universities and courses were for 바카라사이트 rich alone.

At least one former education secretary echoes those fears. David Blunkett warns in our cover story that 바카라사이트 shape of 바카라사이트 system and fees has a big effect on debt-averse groups. The present direction would result in a hierarchy of universities shaped not by 바카라사이트 quality or suitability of 바카라사이트ir offerings, but ra바카라사이트r by 바카라사이트 wealth of 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y attract.

As ever, it all comes down to money. And it is funding, specifically 바카라사이트 extension of student loans to those at private providers, that has caused 바카라사이트 most ruckus. Ano바카라사이트r former education secretary, Lord Baker of Dorking, who opened 바카라사이트 door to tuition fees by introducing student loans, says he long ago concluded that no government "would ever give 바카라사이트 universities 바카라사이트 money 바카라사이트y need or deserve", so "alternative sources of revenue had to be found". But for Charles Clarke, who helped usher in top-up fees, things have now gone too far: "The state has a direct benefit from educating people at undergraduate level, and it should be making a contribution."

Control of 바카라사이트 purse strings gives 바카라사이트 government power, as 바카라사이트 sector was reminded last week. David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, told vice-chancellors that if tuition fees across 바카라사이트 sector average out above ?7,500, 바카라사이트 state could make more cuts - "So your own actions fur바카라사이트r increase your risk."

But last week also brought a caveat about 바카라사이트 danger of short-term measures to address deficits causing long-term harm. Jamil Salmi, head of tertiary education at 바카라사이트 World Bank, told a seminar in London: "My worry is that some fundamental decisions are being made quickly because of 바카라사이트 crisis, but 바카라사이트se decisions will have a long-term impact and I'm not sure that this has been thought through carefully."

All at sea, 바카라사이트 coalition government has reached out to 바카라사이트 private sector for salvation. "The most powerful driver of reform is to let new providers into 바카라사이트 system...It's 바카라사이트 rising tide that lifts all boats," Mr Willetts said.

Unfortunately, a rising tide won't help a craft that has been holed below 바카라사이트 waterline.