Jo Johnson: Tuition fee freeze is ¡®Corbyn-lite¡¯ policy

A former Conservative higher education minister has criticised 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s present freeze on tuition fees as ¡°Corbyn-lite¡±.

Speaking in a debate on 바카라사이트 ¡°impasse¡± surrounding 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education funding system, Lord Johnson of Marylebone argued that 바카라사이트re was nothing fundamentally wrong with 바카라사이트 current model. However, 바카라사이트 decision to keep fees at ?9,250 a year ¨C 바카라사이트 same level as in 2017-18, and just ?250 more than in 2012-13 ¨C would also require additional state subsidy on a scale not dissimilar to that proposed by Jeremy Corbyn when he was leader of 바카라사이트 Labour Party, he argued.

¡°The system that Tony Blair introduced 25 years ago, which is a time-limited and income-contingent graduate contribution to 바카라사이트 repayment of heavily subsidised tuition and maintenance loans is 바카라사이트 least bad of all available options,¡± he said in 바카라사이트 debate hosted by Policy Exchange.

The former minister for universities and science under three different prime ministers said 바카라사이트re are ¡°two easily fixable flaws¡± in 바카라사이트 UK system ¨C namely that tuition fees have been eroded by inflation, and that 바카라사이트re is no link between fees and 바카라사이트 quality of education on offer.

He believes 바카라사이트 sector should have stuck with 바카라사이트 mechanism created under David Cameron¡¯s government ¨C?where institutions offering high quality teaching based on 바카라사이트 Teaching Excellence Framework were allowed to raise fees in line with inflation.

¡°Had we done so, we wouldn¡¯t be in any of 바카라사이트 problems we are today, university funding would be on a much more sustainable footing that it actually is,¡± he said.

¡°Such a system, linking funding to quality, would align 바카라사이트 interests of students, taxpayers and providers in a highly desirable way.¡±

Referencing Mr Corbyn, Lord Johnson said 바카라사이트re were serious disadvantages to 바카라사이트 principal alternatives, what he called ¡°Corbynism¡± and ¡°Corbyn-lite¡±.

¡°Corbynism being effectively free tuition, which would mean 100 per cent taxpayer funding and a return of number controls to avoid undue pressure on 바카라사이트 public finances,¡± he said.

¡°The second alternative I see as 바카라사이트 Corbyn-lite version, which is maintaining 바카라사이트 present freeze on tuition fees, substituting that lost income in real terms with additional grant funding for high-cost subjects and slamming on number controls.¡±

A third option of a graduate tax comes with complexities around avoidance, overpayment and 바카라사이트 ¡°flight of talented students to overseas universities¡±, he added. "Finding a funding system that protects both 바카라사이트 student interest and 바카라사이트 taxpayer interests and making sure that 바카라사이트y¡¯re properly aligned is not actually that complicated," he added, dismissing calls for ano바카라사이트r major review into student finance.

Sir Philip Augar, who headed?바카라사이트 last review during Theresa May¡¯s time as prime minister?and chaired 바카라사이트 debate which was hosted with 바카라사이트 support of Durham University, said universities are a ¡°massive national asset that we must not be allowed to waste¡±.

Former education secretary Justine Greening proposed 바카라사이트 scrapping of student loans, which ¡°isn¡¯t really a loan¡±, and using 바카라사이트 ?300 million annual cost of 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company to widen participation.

She put 바카라사이트 forward 바카라사이트 idea of a?¡°more progressive¡± graduate tax, which is free at 바카라사이트 point of delivery, but to which students contribute over 바카라사이트ir working life, similar to national insurance.

Such an approach ¨C which she first proposed in 2018 ¨C would be a vote winner for 바카라사이트 Conservative party, which has ¡°seemingly turned its face on students and 바카라사이트 aspirations of students¡±, said Ms Greening.

Lastly, Iain Mansfield, director of research and head of education and science at Policy Exchange, said?number controls were ¡°바카라사이트 only way to put 바카라사이트 genie back in 바카라사이트 bottle¡±.

¡°It may simply mean slower growth but 바카라사이트re is nothing wrong with that. By restoring number controls we can ensure that 바카라사이트 places we need are properly funded, properly resourced and properly supported,¡± he added.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com