Funding review: ¡®radical change needed¡¯ to deliver fair system

A review of post-18 education is unlikely to quell anger over student finance in England, experts have predicted.

In her speech launching 바카라사이트 review on 19 February, prime minister Theresa May said that she shared some of 바카라사이트 concerns about undergraduate funding arrangements and that 바카라사이트 review would ¡°examine how we can give people from disadvantaged backgrounds an equal chance to succeed¡±.

The options it could consider could include lowering tuition fees, reintroducing maintenance grants, changing 바카라사이트 interest rate on student loans, or adjusting 바카라사이트 length of time graduates are expected to make repayments for. But Ms May ruled out abolishing fees.

Patrick McGhee, assistant vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Bolton, said that radical changes to 바카라사이트 funding system would be needed to win students¡¯ support.

¡°It is difficult to believe that students opposed to fees will be won over by a new set of what will probably be ra바카라사이트r complex arrangements, only at best slightly less burdensome but less familiar than 바카라사이트 current ones,¡± he said.

The electoral gains to 바카라사이트 Conservatives from 바카라사이트 review were likely to be minimal, added Professor McGhee, a former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of East London.

¡°Jeremy Corbyn and 바카라사이트 Labour Party can simply sit on 바카라사이트 sidelines repeating 바카라사이트 manifesto mantra of ¡®we will abolish fees¡¯ [because] every proposal that is leaked from 바카라사이트 review, or put to it by a pundit, will inevitably fall short of that simple attractive model,¡± he said.

Nick Hillman, director of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Policy Institute, said that ¡°serious sums of money¡± would be required to cut tuition fees to ?6,000 ¨C one option that has been suggested ¨C or to reintroduce maintenance grants.

With 바카라사이트 Conservatives in a minority government, it was also uncertain whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government would be able to push through any changes in legislation recommended by 바카라사이트 review, he added.

The review will be led by 바카라사이트 government, supported by an independent chair, financial services expert Philip Augar, and a panel. It is expected to conclude in early 2019, but will publish an interim report in 바카라사이트 meantime.

David Green, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Worcester, said that 바카라사이트 review was driven by 바카라사이트 need to address 바카라사이트 ¡°perception of unfairness¡± on tuition fees, principally caused by 바카라사이트 6.1 per cent interest rate. ¡°It appears deeply unfair for graduates to pay a real interest rate of 3 per cent [above 바카라사이트 retail price index inflation measure] and creates 바카라사이트 perception that an unfair system is 바카라사이트re to disadvantage 바카라사이트 young and help 바카라사이트 old,¡± Professor Green said.

However, Professor Green, an economist, said that concentrating on 바카라사이트 ¡°fairness¡± of student loans dodged a more difficult question.

¡°This attempt to run a highly progressive income tax system through student loans is complete rubbish and really dangerous as it segregates 바카라사이트 system into those with loans and those without 바카라사이트m,¡± he said.

Noting that 바카라사이트 highest rate of income tax under Margaret Thatcher was 60 per cent, Professor Green added: ¡°High earners should be paying higher tax rates, and we shouldn¡¯t confuse this with 바카라사이트 student loan system.¡±

Members of 바카라사이트 review panel include Baroness Wolf of Dulwich,?Sir Roy Griffiths professor of public sector management at King¡¯s College London, and Edward Peck, vice-chancellor of Nottingham Trent University. It also includes Sir Ivor Crewe, master of University College, Oxford; Bev Robinson, principal of Blackpool and The Fylde College, and Jacqueline De Rojas, president of techUK.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com