Posts
An end to free higher education in Scotland is feared, after Universities Scotland, the body representing Scotland's university principals has said students may have to pay towards the cost of their degrees.
It says that higher education should be 'free at the point of entry and throughout study' but that graduates who go on to earn reasonable salaries should be asked to pay.
The principals are worried that Scottish universities are beginning to fall behind the standards of those in England and are warning that institutions in Scotland will be left with a huge funding gap after tuition fees are raised in England - the case for a 'fair and modest' payment by Scottish graduates was now 'unanswerable' if current levels of teaching and student numbers were to be maintained.
This has increased pressure on the next Scottish government, as English universities are preparing to charge between £6,000 and £9,000 a year in fees. But the Scottish government's First Minister, Alex Salmond told MSPs a 'distinctive Scottish' solution was needed, and that the government would set out fresh options for funding before the end of the year - however he insisted that a return to tuition fees had been ruled out and said no decisions would be made until all those who have an interest, including students, the universities and staff, have offered their views.
The country's leading colleges are now facing strikes, laying off staff and closing departments. Glasgow is planning to shut its modern languages and anthropology departments, while staff at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh are to take industrial action.
The National Union of Students Scotland has added its voice to the debate, demanding that free tuition should be retained in Scotland. A demo under the banner Reclaim Your Voice, to be held on 22 March in Edinburgh will seek to reinforce their views.
http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/news/item.htm?pid=5698
The Complete University Guide
No comments:
Post a Comment