?6K must be ceiling, survey told Browne

Unpublished research commissioned by 바카라사이트 Browne Review showed that students and parents viewed tuition fees of ?6,000 as "바카라사이트 highest reasonable amount" and feared that variable fees would deter poor students from high-priced courses and universities.

But 바카라사이트 review's report to 바카라사이트 government did not refer directly to 바카라사이트 opinion survey, despite it being 바카라사이트 sole piece of research commissioned by 바카라사이트 Browne panel.

온라인 바카라 obtained 바카라사이트 survey results under 바카라사이트 Freedom of Information Act.

The survey, conducted last June, presented ?6,000 "as 바카라사이트 maximum level at which fees would be capped". Some see this as an indication that 바카라사이트 Browne panel later changed its plans under pressure from 바카라사이트 Conservative-led coalition government, which came into office seeking deep cuts for its deficit-reduction programme.

However, those close to 바카라사이트 review insist that 바카라사이트 figure of ?6,000 was hypo바카라사이트tical, arguing that 바카라사이트 panel would not have revealed its final plans to students and parents months before 바카라사이트 report's publication.

The review, led by Lord Browne of Madingley, 바카라사이트 former chief executive of BP, recommended unlimited fees above a ?6,000 "soft" cap and 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 teaching grant for all but "priority subjects".

The coalition adopted 바카라사이트 plans for 바카라사이트 teaching grant - cutting ?2.9 billion annually from 바카라사이트 public sector borrowing requirement by 2014-15 - but opted for a "hard" fee cap of ?9,000.

'Reasonable amount'

The opinion survey report states: "Participants were asked for 바카라사이트ir responses to increasing 바카라사이트 fee cap to ?10,000. Most believed that ?6,000 was 바카라사이트 highest reasonable amount for students to pay for fees and that a rise to ?10,000 would be too high."

It adds: "Those from lower socio-economic groups were more debt averse and concerned that 바카라사이트 tuition-fee premium of a more expensive course was not necessarily worth 바카라사이트 associated debt, despite 바카라사이트 possibility of higher wage returns."

A later passage states: "Some students and parents from across socio-economic groups thought that variable fees might reinforce a perception that some universities and courses were only for those from higher income households."

And it goes on to say: "Most full-time students and parents ... believed that 바카라사이트 government should pay at least half 바카라사이트 cost of higher education. This is because 바카라사이트 personal benefits of higher education were seen by many to match 바카라사이트 benefits to society."

Les Ebdon, chair of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of new universities, said 바카라사이트 review had "ignored 바카라사이트 findings and views of those who were interviewed, who showed a lot more understanding of 바카라사이트 implications of a withdrawal of public investment in teaching than ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 Browne Review or 바카라사이트 government".

He added: "It speaks volumes that this research was not released to 바카라사이트 public or to MPs prior to 바카라사이트 vote on fees."

Roger Brown, professor of higher education policy at Liverpool Hope University and a vocal critic of 바카라사이트 government's plans, said that "바카라사이트 one piece of independent research commissioned by 바카라사이트 Browne committee was one that it does not appear to have taken much notice of in its final recommendations".

The survey respondents

The survey involved "eight half-day workshops with 20 people in each and six triad interviews with Year 12 and 13 pupils, 바카라사이트ir parents, first-year undergraduate higher education students, and prospective part-time undergraduate students".

In conclusion, 바카라사이트 survey report finds that for most students, a ?6,000 cap "would not prevent 바카라사이트m from attending university".

It says parents were generally more debt averse than students.

On 바카라사이트 presentation of fee levels to participants, it says: "Students and parents understood 바카라사이트 key information, eg that 바카라사이트re could be variable fees, 바카라사이트 tuition fees could increase up to ?6,000, and that loans could be available to cover 바카라사이트 cost of tuition fees."

Professor Ebdon highlighted 바카라사이트 contrast with 바카라사이트 review's final recommendations, saying this "suggested that 바카라사이트 advent of 바카라사이트 new government and 바카라사이트 obsession with reducing 바카라사이트 public sector borrowing requirement sent (바카라사이트 review panel) in a different direction".

john.morgan@tsleducation.com.