Student Unions respond to Vice Chancellors' pro fees letter
Helena Puig Larrauri | 25.11.2003 12:39 | Education | Cambridge | London | Oxford
This is a letter from the student unions of the five Universities whose Vice Chancellors came out in favour of top up fees in a letter to The Times.
Oxford University Student Union is organising a protest for free education on Wednesday at 1pm on the steps of the Clarendon Building (Broad Street)
Oxford University Student Union is organising a protest for free education on Wednesday at 1pm on the steps of the Clarendon Building (Broad Street)
Sir,
We would like to respond to the letter from our Vice Chancellors (The Times, November 24) that differential fees are "right in principle". We are disappointed in the stance that our Vice Chancellors have adopted. Although we agree that our universities are underfunded, a differential top-up fee does not represent the only solution to the funding crisis in Higher Education. The government has chosen to ignore the alternative solution of funding education through progressive taxation. This is not unreasonable. By increasing a tax, which already exists, to target those who benefit from having an educated workforce, we would be ensuring a more equitable system regarding higher education funding and providing a long-term solution to the funding crisis.
Any increase in fees damages the principle of equality of opportunity. In a system of differential fees and variable bursaries, students will make their choice of university and course based on financial grounds, not on academic ability. Although a bursary system may protect poorer students from the worst effects of top-up fees, it is by no means perfect. The perception that a university education will involve severe financial hardship will deter applicants from the lowest socio-economic groups. If the objective is to make those who financially benefit from higher education pay for it, then charging higher taxes to those earning higher salaries is the fairest way to fund education.
A simple increase in fees to £3,000 will not solve the funding crisis in our universities. Differential fees will do nothing to widen participation in Higher Education. More disturbingly, differential fees will thwart the aspirations of future generations. The Government should seek a more sustainable Higher Education policy.
Yours faithfully,
BEN BRINDED
President, Cambridge University Students’ Union
HELENA PUIG LARRAURI,
President, Oxford University Students’ Union
ELLIOT SIMMONS,
General Secretary,
London School of Economics & Political Science Students' Union
ALEX COLES,
Education and Welfare Officer, University College London Union
MUSTAFA ARIF
President, Imperial College Union
We would like to respond to the letter from our Vice Chancellors (The Times, November 24) that differential fees are "right in principle". We are disappointed in the stance that our Vice Chancellors have adopted. Although we agree that our universities are underfunded, a differential top-up fee does not represent the only solution to the funding crisis in Higher Education. The government has chosen to ignore the alternative solution of funding education through progressive taxation. This is not unreasonable. By increasing a tax, which already exists, to target those who benefit from having an educated workforce, we would be ensuring a more equitable system regarding higher education funding and providing a long-term solution to the funding crisis.
Any increase in fees damages the principle of equality of opportunity. In a system of differential fees and variable bursaries, students will make their choice of university and course based on financial grounds, not on academic ability. Although a bursary system may protect poorer students from the worst effects of top-up fees, it is by no means perfect. The perception that a university education will involve severe financial hardship will deter applicants from the lowest socio-economic groups. If the objective is to make those who financially benefit from higher education pay for it, then charging higher taxes to those earning higher salaries is the fairest way to fund education.
A simple increase in fees to £3,000 will not solve the funding crisis in our universities. Differential fees will do nothing to widen participation in Higher Education. More disturbingly, differential fees will thwart the aspirations of future generations. The Government should seek a more sustainable Higher Education policy.
Yours faithfully,
BEN BRINDED
President, Cambridge University Students’ Union
HELENA PUIG LARRAURI,
President, Oxford University Students’ Union
ELLIOT SIMMONS,
General Secretary,
London School of Economics & Political Science Students' Union
ALEX COLES,
Education and Welfare Officer, University College London Union
MUSTAFA ARIF
President, Imperial College Union
Helena Puig Larrauri
e-mail:
president@ousu.org
Homepage:
http://www.ousu.org
