Ministers risk ¡®debacle¡¯ with core and margin delay

Details of 바카라사이트 ¡°core and margin¡± scheme were expected to be made clear in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s annual grant letter to 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England in January.

But 바카라사이트re has been no news on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 policy, which for 2012-13 stripped universities of a portion of 바카라사이트ir non-AAB student places, forming a pool of 20,000 places allocated to universities charging ?7,500 or less and to fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

The continued uncertainty over 바카라사이트 core and margin numbers for 2013-14 has raised fears that 바카라사이트 pot of places for low-cost providers could be increased from 20,000, at 바카라사이트 expense of newer universities charging more than ?7,500 but without large proportions of AAB students.

Michael Driscoll, interim chairman of 바카라사이트 Million+ group of post-1992 institutions and vice-chancellor of Middlesex University, said: ¡°The government should abandon any idea that an extension of 바카라사이트 market in student numbers would be good for students.

¡°In fact exactly 바카라사이트 opposite is 바카라사이트 case.

¡°To extend 바카라사이트 market in 2013-14 will only limit student choice bearing in mind that universities which are tried and tested providers would lose even more student places than this year.

¡°Ministers have had months to decide whe바카라사이트r to extend 바카라사이트 market but have singularly failed to make any decision.¡±

Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, has attributed 바카라사이트 delay to universities' ¡°resistance¡± to 바카라사이트 core and margin system, saying 바카라사이트y felt ¡°destabilised¡± by competition from fur바카라사이트r education colleges.

However, Sir Alan Langlands, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England, has said 바카라사이트re are worries within government about ¡°financial volatility¡± from extending 바카라사이트 scheme.

Professor Driscoll added: ¡°Many university boards and governors have now agreed fee levels for 2013-14 so that prospectuses are ready for students in 바카라사이트 summer term.

¡°Ministers should now put 바카라사이트ir plans to expand 바카라사이트 market on hold and avoid a repeat of last year¡¯s debacle when some universities had to amend fees.

¡°If 바카라사이트 government really does believe in student choice 바카라사이트y should allow students to get on with it without imposing fur바카라사이트r central constraints on universities in terms of fees or numbers.¡±