Cable's threat to universities over fees highlights policy failings
6 April 2011
UCU said today that Vince Cable's threat to reduce student numbers at universities that charge full fees highlighted the flaws in the government's failing university funding policy.
Responding to the business secretary's speech at a higher education conference in Birmingham this morning, the union pointed out that universities across the world were increasing student numbers.
UCU said the government's policy was in disarray and, rather than seeking ways to punish universities and students, the government needed to listen to growing number of voices urging it to look again at the whole policy. UCU added that rushing the original vote through for £9,000 fees and then looking at the details later down the line had always been a recipe for disaster.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The government's fee regime is in complete disarray and its sums clearly do not add up. It quickly became clear that all English universities would have to charge more than £6,000 a year just to break even, following devastating funding cuts.
'Vince Cable was wrong at the time to suggest that a fee in excess of £6,000 would only be charged in exceptional circumstances. He is wrong now to suggest that universities or students should be punished for the government's mistakes.
'Rushing through a vote on higher fees and then going into detail at a later stage was always a recipe for disaster. Oxbridge dons are among the growing number of voices calling on the government to think again on this disastrous policy.
'Universities have already been hit with a huge cut in funding and cannot be expected to absorb further cuts. It would also be quite foolish to pull back on student numbers at a time when countries across the world are increasing their graduate numbers.'
UCU said the government's policy was in disarray and, rather than seeking ways to punish universities and students, the government needed to listen to growing number of voices urging it to look again at the whole policy. UCU added that rushing the original vote through for £9,000 fees and then looking at the details later down the line had always been a recipe for disaster.
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'The government's fee regime is in complete disarray and its sums clearly do not add up. It quickly became clear that all English universities would have to charge more than £6,000 a year just to break even, following devastating funding cuts.
'Vince Cable was wrong at the time to suggest that a fee in excess of £6,000 would only be charged in exceptional circumstances. He is wrong now to suggest that universities or students should be punished for the government's mistakes.
'Rushing through a vote on higher fees and then going into detail at a later stage was always a recipe for disaster. Oxbridge dons are among the growing number of voices calling on the government to think again on this disastrous policy.
'Universities have already been hit with a huge cut in funding and cannot be expected to absorb further cuts. It would also be quite foolish to pull back on student numbers at a time when countries across the world are increasing their graduate numbers.'
- PrintPrint this page
- Share
Comments