Unfortunately the coalition is getting it all wrong over tuition fees. We don't need to remind ourselves that - if they endorse it - the Lib Dems will be going back on their flagship election promise. But more importantly will be the wider consequence. Their claim is that the higher cap of £9,000 will provide for greater competition between universities, essentially bringing greater stability to the sector. The 'race to the bottom' logic is knocking about, which tells us that many fees won't even go near the cap. So those "less well off" won't lose their opportunity to higher education...
This will be true, yes, but only for a while. Because once the cuts to their funding catches up with them, they will get on the bandwagon - just like they did with Labour's top-up fees. Naturally this will prove fatal to equality of opportunity: already those from lower income backgrounds are frightened away from higher education by the debt threat, and indeed I was reluctant 3 years ago. If it had been £30,000 debt staring me in the face, I may well have buckled.
To regain some credibility, the Lib Dems (at least their backbenchers) could oppose this. Let's hope they do.
This week I contributed to the blog at work: you can read it here
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