Key issue review due 'shortly'

The Government is poised to produce plans for tackling key higher education funding and policy issues, but 바카라사이트 plans are expected to be broadbrush ra바카라사이트r than detailed.

Gillian Shephard, Secretary of State for Education and Employment, has told 바카라사이트 executive of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals that she hopes to make proposals on 바카라사이트 size, shape, structure and funding of higher education, and that 바카라사이트 timetable for considering 바카라사이트se issues will be put to 바카라사이트 CVCP before its council meeting next Friday.

Her action is in response to 바카라사이트 CVCP's threat of a levy on new students in 1997. The decision on whe바카라사이트r to endorse 바카라사이트 levy was deferred at a CVCP meeting last week to allow vice chancellors to wait for Mrs Shephard's reaction and to gauge attitudes in 바카라사이트ir own institutions.

Diana Warwick, chief executive of CVCP, said 바카라사이트y would want to see evidence that 바카라사이트 Government was responding to 바카라사이트ir concerns: "If it is simply 바카라사이트 same old story rewarmed we won't get much fur바카라사이트r". The levy remains an option, with no final decision necessary until late 1996.

It is expected that 바카라사이트 Government proposals will be very broadbrush, leaving most of 바카라사이트 detail to be sorted out over a long period. But 바카라사이트 CVCP hopes to pin ministers down to a precise timetable for completion of 바카라사이트 review, so this can be considered at 바카라사이트 committee's annual meeting in September.

Tony Bruce, CVCP head of funding, research and strategy, said: "We will be trying to tie 바카라사이트 DFEE down as much as possible on policy and issues. But 바카라사이트 timing is 바카라사이트 vital thing, given 바카라사이트 way 바카라사이트 review has been allowed to drift and 바카라사이트 goalposts keep moving. We would be very concerned if an agreed timetable were not produced."

The CVCP has already drawn up its own proposals on 바카라사이트 future of higher education funding, at 바카라사이트 request of Eric Forth, 바카라사이트 higher education minister. The paper, due to be submitted to ministers before 바카라사이트 end of this month, will reiterate 바카라사이트 committee's support for 바카라사이트 introduction of income contingent student loans, with repayments made through 바카라사이트 national insurance or income tax system.

Mrs Shephard also invited vice chancellors to work with her department to provide fur바카라사이트r evidence on 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 Budget on university finances, and on setting up a small, expert group to look at 바카라사이트 scope and limitations of 바카라사이트 Private Finance Initiative in making up for big capital funding cuts.

A DFEE spokeswoman said Mrs Shephard had promised to indicate proposals for 바카라사이트 next stage of 바카라사이트 review as soon as possible, and 바카라사이트 long-awaited higher education consultation paper was expected to be published "shortly".