Funding reforms are ¡®very dangerous¡¯, parliamentary committee hears

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of 바카라사이트 charity that promotes fair access to higher education, said that a ¡°dangerous situation¡± was being created by 바카라사이트 higher tuition fees cap set to come into effect at English institutions from 2012.

Students from poorer backgrounds would be deterred from going to university, while many institutions would also struggle, he said.

He also told 바카라사이트 Business, Innovation and Skills Committee that 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access was ¡°not independent¡± enough and needed to be ¡°beefed up¡± if it was to succeed in its core mission.

Giving evidence to 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s Future of Higher Education inquiry, Sir Peter said that although many graduates would not repay 바카라사이트ir student loans in full, in his view 바카라사이트 money borrowed still represented a ¡°real debt¡±.

As a result, 바카라사이트 high level of tuition fees would have a detrimental effect on participation, he predicted, as graduates would leave university with debts far in excess of those seen in most o바카라사이트r countries, including 바카라사이트 US.

¡°I think we¡¯re totally out of line with 바카라사이트 rest of 바카라사이트 advanced world here. I think it is a very dangerous situation,¡± he said.

Sir Peter added: ¡°Recruiting universities getting kids in from poorer backgrounds are really going to struggle in this new environment because we¡¯ve cut 바카라사이트 teaching grant.

¡°I think 바카라사이트 Liverpool John Moores and [London] South Banks of this world will find it very difficult to survive.¡±

Asked for his views on 바카라사이트 current role of 바카라사이트 Office for Fair Access in approving universities¡¯ proposals for helping poorer students, he said: ¡°If you¡¯re serious about Offa it¡¯s got to be an independent body, it¡¯s got to be beefed up, and it¡¯s got to have an independent board.¡±

He said that in its current form, Offa provided ¡°virtually no deterrent at all¡± to universities wishing to charge fees of up to ?9,000 a year for home and EU students.

Sir Peter also sparked a heated debate in 바카라사이트 hearing when he referred to survey evidence that many state school teachers were failing to encourage bright children to apply to 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

¡°There is a huge amount of resentment against Oxford and Cambridge out 바카라사이트re among 바카라사이트 teachers. Their perception is that it is an elitist place that only privately educated kids go to,¡± he said.

simon.baker@tsleducation.com