Call to cut tuition fees to £7,500 and restore maintenance grants backed by PM
Written by News on 30/05/2019
Proposals to cut tuition fees and restore maintenance grants to poorer university students have been backed by the prime minister.
Theresa May announced there was “much to be said” for the recommendation to cap what universities can charge for home students at £7,500.
She admitted scrapping maintenance grants “has not worked” and that it was “time to bring them back”.
The recommendations came in the results of an independent review ordered by Mrs May as part of her campaign to tackle the “burning injustices” in Britain.
Other suggestions in it include reducing the interest charged on loans while students are studying, but extending the current loan repayment period of 30 years by a decade.
Dr Philip Augar, who led the review, said such an overhaul would increase the sums repaid by those who have experienced a financial benefit by going to university.
Mrs May responded to its findings at a speech in central London, saying: “I was not surprised to see the panel argue for the reintroduction of means-tested maintenance grants for both for university students and those studying for higher technical qualifications.
“It will be up to the government to decide, at the upcoming spending review, whether to follow this recommendation.
“But my view is very clear: removing maintenance grants from the least well-off students has not worked and I believe it is time to bring them back.”
Addressing tuition fees, the prime minister said they needed to be reformed because many students end up paying the maximum of £9,250 a year even though the cost to universities is less.
Dr Augar said the review told a “story of both care and neglect”, adding: “Our proposals are designed to build on the considerable achievements of our universities – one of the UK’s world-class industries – with a particular focus on the economy’s needs and improving value for money for students and taxpayers.”
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Tuition fees in England were trebled in 2012, and according to estimates by the Institute for Fiscal Studies, the average student can now end up owing more than £50,000 when they leave university.
Dr Augar’s panel has suggested a reduction could be introduced by 2021-22.
(c) Sky News 2019: Call to cut tuition fees to £7,500 and restore maintenance grants backed by PM
