BRING BACK UNI GRANTS
Tory’s plea as PM admits fees failed
A TOP Tory is urging Theresa May to bring back some university grants and cut interest rates on student loan repayments.
Mrs May has admitted Britain’s university tuition is among the most expensive in the world and indicated fees for some courses should be cut.
The Tories have a year-long review into higher education and financing but this is seen as a delaying tactic.
Shadow Education Secretary Angela Rayner said: “Theresa May has finally admitted that her Government got it wrong.
“They trebled tuition fees, abolished maintenance grants and left students graduating with debts of up to £57,000. This long-winded review is an unnecessary waste of time.” Tory Lord Willetts, Universities Minister when tuition fees tripled to £9,000 in England in 2012, is urging a rethink.
He said: “I know that people don’t like the interest rate [6.1%], so that would be an obvious candidate for cutting it back or getting rid of.
“Bringing back some means-tested maintenance grant would be a boost for them.” Mrs May, speaking at Derby College, said many schoolleavers would be better seeking cheaper alternatives to going to university, which should not be seen as the only desirable route.
Mrs May backed a crackdown on university vice-chancellors sitting on panels deciding their pay and earning huge sums as students struggle.