GUILDFORD MP WARNS UNIVERSITY FUNDING PLANS WILL LEAD TO A 2-TIER SYSTEM

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 23rd Jan 2003

Sue Doughty MP has criticised Government plans for funding higher education announced today as unfair and leading to a 2-tier education system where money, not talent will determine a university education.

Universities will be free to increase tuition fees (currently £1100 a year) to £3000. Maintenance grants of £1000 will be re-introduced, but only for the poorest students. From 2006, fees will be paid after graduation, rather than upfront.

Sue Doughty said:

"Today's funding proposals break every Government promise made to students and universities. The prospect of being burdened with over £20,000 of debt will discourage many from poorer backgrounds from going to university.

"Local students have told me that the prospect of having to pay such a large amount of money after graduating is a huge disincentive to taking a degree. Students at the University of Surrey already face the high cost of living in the area and do not want an increase in their debt burden.

"Universities, particularly the best universities, will increasingly be for the rich, rather than the talented. I fear that we will end up having a two tier education system with universities separated by what they can charge and students split by what they can afford.

"I will continue to press the Government to look at fairer ways to fund higher education, which do not saddle students with thousands of pounds of debt."