Loading ...Public opinion against university fees, shows new survey
Public opinion is against raising the cap on tuition fees, according to a poll by the National Union of Students (NUS).
The results of the poll come just before the government is due to announce the details of its review of tuition fees tomorrow (9th November).
Of the 2,152 adults in Britain that were surveyed, 52% think that the forthcoming review should consider abolishing top-up fees and finding another alternative, while only 12% think the review should consider raising the cap.
In light of the poll’s results, Wes Streeting, President of NUS, said: “This poll shows that the public will not stand for a cosy stitch-up on university fees. At a time of economic crisis, when many hard working families are struggling to support their offspring through university, a hike in fees is the last thing we need.”
In addition, 71% of those surveyed want to see students represented within the core review group, while only 30% think businesses should be represented.
These results contradict repeated announcements made by Business Secretary Peter Mandelson that, after students, businesses are “the key clients of the higher skills system.”
These comments were re-enforced by the recent publication of the government framework document for higher education, entitled ‘Higher Ambitions: The Future of Universities in a Knowledge Economy’, which emphasises the increasing role of businesses in university funding and governance.
The NUS supports the results of their poll and wants to see student representation within the core fees-review group.
Streeting said: “Students are already leaving university with record levels of debt, and it would be totally unacceptable to fill the panel with people who are either Government patsies or predisposed to higher fees.
“Little over a month ago, the CBI called for a rise in fees, and polls have found that most university vice-chancellors would like to charge students £5,000 or more a year. Left to their own devices, behind closed doors, these two groups would only come to one conclusion: that students and their families should be bled dry for their own financial benefit.”
The University and College Union (UCU) support the NUS call for student representation.
Sally Hunt, UCU General Secretary, said: “The review needs to be allowed to be properly conducted with the relevant voices, particularly those of academics and students, on the core group.”
The poll also found that 81% of respondents thought that the review group meeting should be held in public.
Where was the NUS when the government brought in tuition fees for English students on the back of votes from scottish mp’s? the majority of English mp’s voted no to tuition fees. English students and the NUS deserve everything they get unless they demand parity with scotland
and the end to discrimiation of English students in scotland
where by English students in scotland are charged fees but for eu student it is free. The only thing that scares westminster mp’s is the threat of an English parliament.Demand an English Parliament or you will get nothing.
Universities should be independent of the government and should be able to charge what they like but as students are over 18 and therefore adults no reference should be made to parental income in assessing grant support. This is just my view. But what is completely wrong is that the legislation to permit univerity top-up fees in England was nodded through by Labour’s phalanx of Scottish MPs whose constituents were unaffected. Tally is right – the only way to ensure that English students are treated fairly is to allow only English MPs to vote on such legislation. The NUS has completely overlooked this.
What is wrong with the NUS that they feel unable to point out the bleeding obvious that it is English students that are getting the Brown end of the stick here?
Meanwhile Scottish students studying in Scotland OR England pay ZERO tuition fees largely due to the Barnett Formula that values a Scottish life at being worth >£1500 more per person per year than an English life.
English students need to start a new union, one that stands up for English students.
You deserve everything you get.
Tertiary education tax was pushed through by Scottish MPs voting for fees in England, whilst MSPs in the Scottish Parliament rejected them.
I campaigned to end such wrongs and the NUS did absolutely nothing.
This is the West Lothian Question in action and the NUS’s inaction has resulted in this. Congratulations!