And bad for the country
Not necessary because the short-term need for deficit reduction doesn't justify a long term change in Higher Education funding which will be bad for universities and not save any public money. They've chosen to cut higher education teaching by 80% when other public services are being cut much less.
Not fair because graduates will now have to pay the whole cost of most degrees (simply replacing the cut in funding), instead of sharing the costs with the taxpayer. Graduates will pay much more, and pay for 30 years. Middle income graduates will be hardest hit.
Not good for higher education. England’s world class university system has been built on a public investment and trust in the professional academic leadership of universities. This will be replaced by a market in higher education in which many students will be put off university and forced to choose the cheapest rather than the best course.
The Labour Party says:
* We would not make such a big cut in Higher Education teaching grants, so high fees would not be needed to replace lost income.
* Graduates should share the cost of higher education; by moving towards a graduate tax the highest earning graduates would make a fairer contribution
* We believe that universities should remain public institutions, receiving significant public funding
