The Lib-Dems got into Parliament by campaigning against Tuition
Fees; saying if elected they would abolish all fees. They
even signed a pledge proclaiming their intention to abolish
University Tuition fees. But as we all know they sold their
integrity cheap, for the chance of limited power, and a promise
that there would be a referendum on proportional representation.
At least they have showed their true colours.
Lord Browne, the former head of BP, has announced that there
will be no cap on university places; this is what he said
in his statement, “Our
higher education system is world-renowned but too often it
enshrines the power of universities and not the power of students.
These reforms will put students in the driving seat of a revolutionary
new system.” What he means is
that students have the power to pay up, or not go to university.
The same power they had before.
Lord Browne’s Report suggests
a reduction from £3.9billion to only £700million
in university teaching grants, in response Vince Cable
said "I don't deny that there will be a very substantial
reduction in the amount of money that the Government can provide
in the form of teaching grants.
A lot of courses would cease to be subsidised. Those where
there is a high cost and a big national interest - science,
medical courses - would continue to be subsidised."
Asked whether that meant the rest would cease to be subsidised,
he replied: "That is in general going to be the case,
but those figures are guesses."
Jon
snow reported from Leeds University for Channel 4, about
the proposed increases, and his broadcast was interrupted
by disgruntled protesters. There was a question asked: how
many students had a part time job to subsidise there tuition
fees, not many students raised their hands.
When Jon snow asked the students if their courses could be
done in 2 years instead of 3, only one student answered, saying
she had between 4 and 6 hours a week of lectures for her £3,290,
she said the course could easily been run over 2 years. When
the programme was finished we talked to the students as they
came out, they all agreed the courses were not “value
for money”
My son has recently graduated from Leeds University, with
a Maths degree. He was invited along with his parents to an
“open evening” at Leeds University to further
try and convince my son to go there. He had previously been
invited to several lectures.
The reason I mention this, is that after the general discussion
on the benefits of Leeds University, we talked to the professors
who would be teaching my son. The professor told him he would
have at least 20 hours a week of lectures, and would have
to do another 40 hours of home study a week. The professor
said it was unwise to take any sort of part time job, the
university research showed that those who did a part time
job were less successful in the exams.
My son always felt the £3,290 he had to pay a year for
fees was disproportionate to the actual lectures he had. Many
times a tutor wouldn’t turn up, and 1 full year they
had a Russian tutor who couldn’t speak or write reasonable
English. I asked my son how many students attended the same
lectures as him, at least 5 he said, and the most 240 spread
over several lecture halls with students watching large monitors.
With students feeling they are not receiving value for money,
when the fees double, treble or even quadruple; they may think
the £40,000 debt they leave university with, is a bit
high when there are no jobs available.
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