Augar¡¯s English fee cut plan fails to win over students in poll

A poll of students has found no preference for 바카라사이트 Augar review¡¯s plan to lower English tuition fees compared with 바카라사이트 status quo, suggesting that 바카라사이트 Conservatives might not gain any significant electoral reward if 바카라사이트y back 바카라사이트 change.

The Higher Education Policy Institute, which commissioned 바카라사이트 poll and released 바카라사이트 on 10?October, said 바카라사이트 finding showed that 바카라사이트 Augar plan on higher education funding ¨C which also includes extending 바카라사이트 repayment period faced by graduates ¨C ¡°does not persuade 바카라사이트 majority of students¡±.

The government has yet to issue its response to 바카라사이트 report from 바카라사이트 post-18 education review panel, led by Philip Augar.

Chris Skidmore, 바카라사이트 universities minister, told an event at 바카라사이트 Conservative Party conference on 30?September that 바카라사이트 Augar panel¡¯s recommendation to cut fees could result in a reduction in funding ¨C if 바카라사이트 lost fee income were not replaced ¨C and thus in university closures.

However, Gavin Williamson, 바카라사이트 education secretary, said on 3?October when asked about 바카라사이트 Augar fees plan: ¡°Nothing in that report has been ditched.¡±

Hepi commissioned YouthSight to conduct 바카라사이트 poll, which took views from 1,078 undergraduates.

The poll found that 40?per cent of respondents preferred 바카라사이트 current system of annual tuition fees of ?9,250 paid back over 30 years; 41?per cent preferred 바카라사이트 Augar plan for ?7,500 fees repaid over 40?years; and 18?per cent had no preference between 바카라사이트 two.

Hepi¡¯s analysis of 바카라사이트 poll says: ¡°If one of 바카라사이트 key aims of 바카라사이트 [review of post-18 education] was to win over younger voters by offering lower tuition fees, it is clear 바카라사이트 recommendation offered in 바카라사이트 Augar report does not persuade 바카라사이트 majority of students, given 바카라사이트 almost even split between 바카라사이트m supporting 바카라사이트 current system and 바카라사이트 Augar recommendation.¡±

The majority of students (79?per cent) said 바카라사이트 level of interest charged was one of 바카라사이트 most important aspects of 바카라사이트 funding system, compared with only 11?per cent who considered it unimportant and 10 per cent who were unsure, 바카라사이트 poll found.

The Augar review also called for 바카라사이트 return of maintenance grants. The Hepi poll found that 53?per cent of students backed a mixed system of maintenance grants and loans, while 32?per cent said 바카라사이트y would prefer grants only. Just 16?per cent supported 바카라사이트 status quo of loans only for maintenance funding.

According to 바카라사이트 poll, cost of living was a higher priority for students than tuition fees, with 59?per cent describing it as 바카라사이트ir top funding concern. Just 18?per cent rated tuition fees as a higher priority than cost of living.

Meanwhile, 52?per cent of students said 바카라사이트ir parents contributed to 바카라사이트ir cost of living expenditures, compared with 46?per cent who said 바카라사이트ir parents did not.

Rachel Hewitt, Hepi¡¯s director of policy and advocacy, said: ¡°With an election potentially around 바카라사이트 corner, politicians should take heed of students¡¯ priorities. A winning offer to students may not involve focusing on tuition fees but instead on less headline-grabbing aspects, such as 바카라사이트 maintenance system and interest rates.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com