British University students could face more than £10,000 a year in fees

[n2doc]

Anushka Asthana and Toby Helm
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 2 October 2010 21.57 BST

A free market in tuition fees in which universities will be free to charge more than £10,000 a year for courses is expected to be recommended by the government's official adviser on higher education next week.

Unveiling the most important report on higher education in decades, Lord Browne will say that universities should be allowed to keep all the income from tuition fees up to an annual level of £10,000. The current cap is £3,290. The Observer has learned that he will also recommend they be allowed to cross that threshold if they pay a rising proportion of the additional income into a central fund. The money could be used to support students from poorer families.

If they are accepted, the radical proposals by Browne, the former chief executive of BP, would amount to the most far-reaching shake-up of higher education in decades and could result in middle-class students leaving university with debts in excess of £80,000. It will be up to ministers how they respond to the plans.

Vince Cable, the secretary of state for business, innovation and skills, the department that includes universities, and David Willetts, the higher education minister, are said to be convinced of the need to increase fees, but only to the level of £7,000, and alongside "progressive" measures to help the poorest. The shock of Browne's recommendation, if he sticks to it, could make such plans appear moderate.

more

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/oct/02/universities-tuition-fees-students-browne

oh goody, more 'free market ' solutions

[PDJane]

1. It's a fine way to make sure that only the rich become educated.

It's also a fine way to ensure that the gap between rich and poor is maintained.