Tuition fees ‘help poor students’
THE SNP are standing by their flagship tuition fee policy – despite mounting evidence it holds back poorer students.
A report found introducing fees of up to £9250 a year in England has increased student numbers, improved funding levels for universities and led to more places for disadvantaged pupils.
A similar report last year on the Scottish system found scrapping tuition fees has done nothing to help the poorest Scots get a university education.
There are a wide range of bursaries and loans in place in England to help with living costs for students.
The Scottish system has been criticised for using public money to cover tuition costs for rich students, while cutting bursaries for the poor and slashing funding for colleges.
The paper for the Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics says: “Our findings suggest that England’s shift (to fees) has resulted in increased funding per head, rising enrolments and a narrowing of the participation gap between advantaged and disadvantaged students.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon repeated the commitment to free tuition in her keynote party conference speech on Tuesday.
And SNP MSP Gillian Martin said last night: “The SNP remain absolutely committed to free university tuition.
“We have restored education as a right and have record numbers of young people going on to university.”
Scottish Conservative education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “While the SNP have been stubbornly maintaining universal free tuition, young people from the poorest backgrounds have suffered.”
Labour education spokesman Iain Gray said: “Labour support free tuition funded by a progressive tax system.
“But students also need proper support to live while they study.”