It was announced this week by the CBI – the Confederation of British Industry – that UK domestic university students should pay more in tuition fees and student loan interest. Is this a measure that’s really needed, or one simply to bring back the elitist nature of higher education in the UK?
The Director General of the CBI, Richard Lambert, commented that the increase in tuition fees was justified to, “preserve the quality of university teaching and research”. He goes on to add that the report published by the CBI has found that if Government spending cuts are to be made, then they should be aimed at already generous levels of student support funding.
Or as one of my colleagues aptly translates: Penalise those who are most in need and ensure that an already elitist system further discriminates against those who need it most.
For the rich, who have historically been the majority of students attending university in the UK, cuts in Government funding would not affect them in the slightest; they need worry about neither tuition fee funding nor student loans. Regardless of their academic ability, they are often – quite unofficially of course – certain of a place at a top university by rights.
The CBI has been quite adamant to publicly state that they are not in favour of denying help to those that need it. Indeed, their argument relies heavily on giving more emphasis to means testing. However, it is the very fact that means-testing be given more weight which demonstrates exactly who will be hurt by this proposed change.
The proposals put forward by the CBI will make it so much harder for children of low income families to better themselves through education. University should be for the brightest and most able students, hungry for success, irrespective of class or wealth. The increased burden of higher tuition fees and more crippling, commercial rates of interest on student loans really will make university too expensive for some. This will only increase the gap between the haves and the have-nots in society, ensuring that success and wealth remains in the hands of few. Call me a cynic, but isn’t that exactly what the upper-classes want anyway?
P.S (sorry) Also with such gradual repayment of loans, I will be paying my debts back by approx. £8 per week ONLY when im earning nearly £300 a week. I think this is a small price to pay considering I will likely be earning more than others who did not have the privelege of going to university, who I therefore would hate to have paying for my education through taxes. Universities cost a LOT and the government should be able to spend its money on things like public transport and health care, which EVERYONE benefits from. Education may be a right, but Higher education is a privelege.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
No, I’m afraid you’ve got that totally wrong. Getting into university is about grades, not wealth – I am from a low income background and survive entirely (living away from home and all) on my loans and grants from my LEA and University. The divisions between rich and poor are more due to better schools being in richer areas and therefore people in these areas getting better A-levels, which is perhaps an issue much more worthy of addressing. With the current loans/grants systems the only kids who have problems are in fact those from rich backgrounds whose parents can’t/won’t help them financially.
From a ‘low income child’ who just about managed to get into uni, who is FOR tuition fees.
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
Education costs continue to increase at a rate greater than inflation due to basic supply and demand economics. As the Governement pours dollars into education in the form of loans and grants and public education money it distorts demand and eliminates competition. Increasing demand in the absence of competition results in increased prices. You can see the same result in health care since the introduction of medicare.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is not a case of “Is the |UK university system becoming elitist once again” at all. The university system in the UK has never NOT been elitist.
Whether that is good or bad depends on the individual.
However, in general (there are a few exceptions) if you have the background that allowed you to study unimpeded, the brain and FINANCE, you are OK.
That is the way the cooking crumbles – for good or bad!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Usually I do not post on articles, but I would like to say that this blog really forced me to do so! Thanks, really nice article.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0