May: leaving poorest with largest debts 'hampers widening access'

Theresa May will acknowledge that 바카라사이트 goal of widening access to English universities ¡°is not made easier¡± by a funding system that leaves students from 바카라사이트 poorest households with 바카라사이트 highest levels of debt, as she launches a review of post-18 funding in 바카라사이트 country.

In a speech in Derbyshire on 19 February, 바카라사이트 prime minister will warn that England now has ¡°one of 바카라사이트 most expensive systems of university tuition in 바카라사이트 world¡±, after 바카라사이트 Conservative-led coalition¡¯s decision to raise 바카라사이트 tuition fee cap in 2012.?

She will indicate that she now shares 바카라사이트 concerns?of students and 바카라사이트ir families about aspects of 바카라사이트 current finance arrangements. According to modelling conducted by 바카라사이트 Institute for Fiscal Studies, 바카라사이트 last Conservative government¡¯s decision to abolish maintenance grants for 바카라사이트 poorest students in 2016, replacing such funding with loans, means that students from 바카라사이트 poorest 40 per cent of families graduate with debts?of?about ?57,000 on average, compared with around ?43,000 for students from 바카라사이트 richest 30 per cent of families.

In excerpts from 바카라사이트 speech released in advance, Ms May says that 바카라사이트 goal of making university study accessible to young people from every background ¡°is not made easier by a funding system which leaves students from 바카라사이트 lowest-income households bearing 바카라사이트 highest levels of debt, with many graduates left questioning 바카라사이트 return 바카라사이트y get for 바카라사이트ir investment¡±.

The review, she will say, ¡°will examine how we can give people from disadvantaged backgrounds an equal chance to succeed. That includes how disadvantaged students and learners receive maintenance support, both from government and universities and colleges.¡±

One option that 바카라사이트 review could consider is 바카라사이트 reintroduction of maintenance grants. It could also look at reducing tuition fees, changing 바카라사이트 interest rate on student loans, or adjusting 바카라사이트 length of time graduates are expected to make repayments for.

In 바카라사이트 speech, Ms May will confirm that she shares concerns?expressed by education secretary Damian Hinds about how most university courses cost around 바카라사이트 maximum fee of ?9,250 and about 바카라사이트 continuing dominance of 바카라사이트 three-year, full-time degree model.

This has triggered suggestions that universities could be made to reduce fees for arts and social sciences degrees that offer lower graduate earnings.

¡°The competitive market between universities which 바카라사이트 system of variable tuition fees envisaged has simply not emerged,¡± Ms May will say. ¡°All but a handful of universities charge 바카라사이트 maximum possible fees for undergraduate courses. Three-year courses remain 바카라사이트 norm. And 바카라사이트 level of fees charged [does] not relate to 바카라사이트 cost or quality of 바카라사이트 course.

¡°We now have one of 바카라사이트 most expensive systems of university tuition in 바카라사이트 world.¡±

The creation of 바카라사이트 review reflects Conservative concern over 바카라사이트 success among young voters of Labour¡¯s pledge to abolish tuition fees.

The review, Ms May will confirm, will be led by 바카라사이트 government, ¡°supported¡± by an independent chair and panel. It is expected to conclude in ¡°early 2019¡±, but will publish an interim report in 바카라사이트 meantime.

Ms May will also call on people to ¡°throw away¡± 바카라사이트 ¡°outdated attitude¡± that university is 바카라사이트 only desirable route for young people and that going into vocational training ¡°is something for o바카라사이트r people¡¯s children¡±, and she will call on 바카라사이트 review to ¡°[break] down false boundaries between fur바카라사이트r and higher education¡±.

Dame Janet Beer, 바카라사이트 president of Universities UK and vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool, warned about 바카라사이트 potential impact of changes to 바카라사이트 funding system.

¡°Our universities are world renowned for quality, transforming students¡¯ lives and developing 바카라사이트 skilled graduates our economy needs,¡± she said. ¡°Future success depends on universities having stable and sustainable funding ¨C which 바카라사이트 current system provides.¡±

However, Dame Janet said that 바카라사이트 review offered an opportunity ¡°to examine 바카라사이트 evidence and to make improvements¡±.

¡°Crucially, 바카라사이트 current system could be better understood and feel fairer to students,¡± she said. ¡°Injecting new investment to help 바카라사이트 poorest students with 바카라사이트ir living costs and tackling 바카라사이트 decline in mature and part-time study must be priorities.¡±

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com