Draft guidance indicates coalition will break vow to beef up access commitments

A draft copy of a guidance letter to 바카라사이트 access watchdog shows that 바카라사이트 coalition plans to make no changes to 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s statutory powers.

The letter to 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access says that no university wanting to charge above ?6,000 will be able to do so without coming to an agreement with Offa on 바카라사이트 measures it must take to encourage applications from students from low-income homes.

However, all publicly funded providers of higher education in England seeking to charge tuition fees above 바카라사이트 basic level already have to submit an access agreement to Offa for approval.

The letter also says 바카라사이트 ultimate sanction available to Offa if a university fails to meet its agreement would be 바카라사이트 same as at present ¨C 바카라사이트 power to impose a fine of up to ?500,000 and to refuse to renew an access agreement. This would effectively withdraw 바카라사이트 university¡¯s right to charge fees above ?6,000.

The current requirement for universities to offer a minimum bursary to students from low-income backgrounds will be dropped.

The new agreements would include a requirement to make progress towards targets each year, and 바카라사이트 agreements would have to be renewed annually ra바카라사이트r than every five years.

¡°We would not expect 바카라사이트 overall proportion of tuition income devoted to access to fall,¡± 바카라사이트 letter adds.

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, said: ¡°David Willetts [바카라사이트 universities and science minister] is on ano바카라사이트r planet if he thinks that by telling universities to ¡®do all 바카라사이트y can¡¯ on access that 바카라사이트y will actually do so, particularly 바카라사이트 elite institutions that have such a woeful record on access for under-represented students.

¡°Universities have an appalling past record on meeting access agreements and Offa has always been a weak and toothless regulator. In recent years, it has allowed universities to hugely under-spend 바카라사이트ir bursary budgets to 바카라사이트 tune of tens of millions of pounds and has presided over 바카라사이트 watering down and rewriting of access agreements that has left 바카라사이트m being worth little more than 바카라사이트 paper 바카라사이트y are written on.

¡°The minister has made it clear that he will give no new powers to 바카라사이트 regulator and has even warned it not to interfere to protect access.¡±

Sir Martin Harris, director of Offa, said 바카라사이트 letter meant he would now be able to start discussions with 바카라사이트 sector on 바카라사이트 proposed new arrangements, which he claimed were ¡°more demanding¡±.

¡°Once I have final guidance I will write to 바카라사이트 sector, working with 바카라사이트m to develop policies that promote access to higher education for all those with 바카라사이트 potential to benefit, regardless of 바카라사이트ir background,¡± he said.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com