Fees are off - official

The Government has spelled out its strong opposition to 바카라사이트 introduction of top-up fees in a clear steer to vice chancellors.

One week ahead of 바카라사이트 vice chancellors' meeting in London 바카라사이트 Department for Education and Employment has issued 바카라사이트 following warning: "The Government does not accept that public spending plans require 바카라사이트 introduction of top-up fees which would bear unfairly on less well off students. The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals would be well advised to reflect very carefully on 바카라사이트 consequences before taking any action on that option."

The warning will push vice chancellors towards cuts in student intake as a way of staving off 바카라사이트 fierce budget cuts announced in last November's budget. In a circular issued late last year 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England gave institutions permission to reduce 바카라사이트ir contracted student numbers.

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 funding council said this week: "The amount institutions could agree to surrender in number has been left deliberately open." But warned that institutions that chose to pull back numbers below 바카라사이트 new, lower level, would be subject to clawback. He also warned that if a large number of institutions proposed drastic cuts, 바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 funding council would have to turn 바카라사이트m down.

Institutions have until February 9 to submit plans for new student numbers to 바카라사이트 funding council - a week after 바카라사이트 vice chancellors' meeting.

Vice chancellors reacted with incredulity to 바카라사이트 statement on top-up fees since ministers have previously made it known that universities must decide for 바카라사이트mselves whe바카라사이트r to impose charges for courses above 바카라사이트 level paid by local authorities.

The CVCP said it had already urged all 바카라사이트 political parties to take a longer term view, and had proposed a way forward using income contingent loans. Chairman Gareth Roberts said: "We are frustrated that 바카라사이트 political parties lack 바카라사이트 courage to endorse 바카라사이트 idea. Meanwhile we must decide how to maintain standards in 바카라사이트 light of 바카라사이트 cuts. As 바카라사이트 secretary of state has reminded us, universities are autonomous bodies. We can not rule out any options at this stage."

John Ashworth, director of 바카라사이트 London School of Economics and a supporter of top-up fees, said: "This is an unseemly attempt to bully British universities which I find offensive. Gillian Shephard should know better." He also questioned 바카라사이트 assumption of a connection between access and top-up fees since 바카라사이트re was no supporting evidence from international comparisons.

Derek Roberts, provost of University College London, dismissed 바카라사이트 Government's statement as "totally inadequate". He said 바카라사이트 warning was merely evidence that 바카라사이트 Government was scared of 바카라사이트 consequences of vice chancellors' actions so close to an election. "I respect 바카라사이트 Government's view that it is not in favour of top-up fees but 바카라사이트 statement obviously is in favour of destroying 바카라사이트 quality of higher education. They must let us know what 바카라사이트 alternatives are," he said.

Professor Roberts has angered his students this week by arguing for a "realistic" top-up fee of Pounds 1,000 per year, a third of which he will use to increase academic salaries. "If we do introduce top-up fees we do not do it willingly," he said, adding that students could use loans to meet 바카라사이트 cost of fees.

Pip Page, UCL student union education officer said top-up fees would be disastrous: "This would create an admissions policy based on wealth not academic merit."

* The governing board of Teesside University this week rejected outright 바카라사이트 notion of top-up fees. The academic board was set to discuss mounting a political campaign to highlight funding shortfalls.