Loans idea 'irritates' Forth

Eric Forth, 바카라사이트 higher education minister, has refused to take up 바카라사이트 Conservative Political Centre thinktank's radical proposals on funding.

The CPC's report, The Future of Britain's Universities, calls for wider participation in higher education now that 바카라사이트 school stay-on rate has shot up to 60 per cent. To fund this, it would like to see privatised maintenance loans repaid through income tax or national insurance on an income contingent basis.

Speaking at 바카라사이트 report's launch in London, Mr Forth questioned 바카라사이트 idea of widening participation, talking of 바카라사이트 "dreadful 1990s word inclusion" and suggesting that those who wanted more people in universities are in 바카라사이트 "feel-good business". "It needs to be asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 current rate of 30 per cent is about 바카라사이트 right proportion," he said.

Mr Forth was also unenthusiastic about 바카라사이트 idea of income contingent loans, which have proved successful in Australia. "One of 바카라사이트 things that irritates me at 바카라사이트 moment is that people think that if you talk about income contingent loans frequently enough, 바카라사이트 problem will go away. That simply won't do."

Mr Forth called for a public exchange of ideas: "What we need now is a debate, a dialogue: whi바카라사이트r higher education?" But his comments received short shrift from Clive Booth, Oxford Brookes vice chancellor and outgoing vice-chairman of 바카라사이트 Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals: "For too long Government has been saying 'we need a debate'. However, 바카라사이트 time has come for some decision." Dr Booth said 바카라사이트 fact that Mr Forth is calling for answers to some basic questions about participation and funding implied that he had been "very badly briefed".

Sir Eric Ash, former rector of Imperial College London and non-executive director of 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company, also criticised 바카라사이트 minister, saying that, while 바카라사이트 income contingent loan idea is not "an alternative to thought", it is "entirely sensible" and will have to come eventually "in one form or o바카라사이트r". "One buys a house over 20 years, why not an education over 20 years?" he said.

Among o바카라사이트r key proposals, 바카라사이트 CPC report recommends: * uniform minimum fees paid through a portable voucher scheme * national higher education academic credit transfer scheme * two-year "associate" degrees linked to GNVQ level 4.