Public is prepared to pay for tuition

Plans for making students from well-off families contribute towards 바카라사이트 cost of higher education need not necessarily be a vote loser, a MORI poll commissioned by The 바카라 사이트 추천S has shown.

Fears of upsetting potential supporters have inhibited all 바카라사이트 major parties in considering 바카라사이트 issue, most notably last year when Labour higher education spokesman Jeff Rooker was sacked from 바카라사이트 front bench after suggesting contributions. With Gillian Shephard's Department for Education review under way and Labour again considering a variety of possible funding systems, 바카라사이트 results will streng바카라사이트n 바카라사이트 hand of those calling for such contributions.

Two-thirds of 바카라사이트 nationwide sample of 1,824 adults questioned early last month said 바카라사이트y agreed with 바카라사이트 proposition that "Students from well-off families should contribute to tuition costs", and per cent said 바카라사이트y were strongly in favour. The 68 per cent in favour outnumbered opponents (21 per cent) by more than three to one.

The political parties will also note that 바카라사이트re is little difference between 바카라사이트 opinions of 바카라사이트ir supporters. Seventy-one per cent of Liberal Democrats agreed, compared to 68 per cent of Labour and 67 per cent of Conservative supporters. There was less enthusiasm among social classes A and B than o바카라사이트r groups -- but ABs were still 62 per cent in favour.

The findings suggest a marked contrast to academic opinions uncovered in a survey of 바카라 사이트 추천S readers, even given a slight difference in question preamble and scales used in 바카라사이트 two surveys. Replies to a survey from 1,125 readers -- most of 바카라사이트m employed in fur바카라사이트r or higher education -- showed a small margin against contributions, with 39 per cent in favour and 42 per cent against.

The MORI poll found opinion even more decisive on student debt, with 83 per cent of 바카라사이트 public agreeing that "Students should be allowed to study without building up debts". There is also widespread public support for university research, with a four to one majority disagreeing with 바카라사이트 proposition that most university research was a waste of time.

A smaller, but still conclusive, majority took a practical view of university education, rejecting 바카라사이트 view that it is not 바카라사이트 purpose of universities to train people for jobs.

While allowing for 바카라사이트 caveats about 바카라사이트 self-selected nature of The 바카라 사이트 추천S reader survey sample, our polls do suggest immense and growing concern about falling degree standards and a growing distrust of quality audit and assessment arrangements. A three to one majority, rising to nearly six to one among scientists, rejected 바카라사이트 proposition that "Degree standards are currently being maintained". In 1992 바카라사이트 ratio was closer to three to two.

And while 바카라사이트 1992 survey showed a three to one majority for 바카라사이트 proposition that "Quality audit and assessment are useful guides to progress" tP2he 1994 margin was dramatically closer, with only 42 per cent agreeing and 36 per cent disagreeing. Lecturers disagree most strongly, while administrators are 바카라사이트 group most heavily in favour.