Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

Top up fees

I hope you had a restful Christmas break. In my next life I am coming back either as our Siamese cat which spent most of the festive season curled up on his bed on the Aga, rising only to polish off an individual sachet of duck and gravy; or perhaps as a plumber who seem to be able to charge what they like and come when they want.

Sadly that important spiritual decision does not help me resolve one of the big issues that Parliament will be voting on in the next few weeks, namely how to pay for higher education.

Currently 40% of 18 year olds go on to higher education. The average student leaves university with a debt of £20,000, although the repayment terms are generous. This is of concern, but we still have one of the most open-handed systems of student support anywhere in Europe and in the USA most students work their way through college.

Unfortunately, even the status quo is not an option. Most universities are facing a massive funding crisis, racking up debt and the salaries of lecturers have fallen well behind the earnings of equivalent professionals. No one seriously challenges whether or not more money is needed, it is.

The issue is whether the extra cash should be put in from general taxation, or paid for by the students who benefit from getting a degree. A graduate is likely to earn over 49% more than those with equivalent A-levels who don’t go to university, so they do very nicely thank you. Naturally the country also benefits because higher incomes pay higher taxes.
So should the 60% who leave school at 16 or 18 and start work stump up more for the next generation of graduates, or should the high fliers pay for it themselves? The government are proposing top up fees, paid for by the students.

My worry is that we might deter the brightest people from modest income backgrounds, the very last thing we must do.
Is there perhaps another route: to look again at the ever burgeoning numbers going to university? Could we cut out some of the Mickey Mouse courses, encourage more vocational training, scale back on the numbers of universities and focus resources on the best places and avoid the need for top-up fees?

I would value your views. Mail@garystreeter.co.uk or drop me a line at the House of Commons, Westminster SW 1A OAA

posted by Nigel on Thursday, January 08, 2004