UK: Blair’s top-up fees drive working class children away from universities

In this video, British Leftist Labourite John McDonnell sets out his policies on education; against Blair’s tuition fees.

By Robert Stevens:

Britain: Poorer student numbers fall as tuition fees are hiked up

27 December 2006

The number of undergraduates applying to enrol in university courses in England this year fell by 15,000 compared with 2005.

The fall is almost entirely due to the September introduction of new tuition “top-up” fees of £3,000 a year.

This amount replaces the previous system of fees introduced by the Blair government in which £1,000 was paid up-front.

The government dismissed the decline, saying that the figures indicated a “strong performance” in terms of student enrolment

In reality, figures show that the percentage of students going to university from poor families has fallen drastically along with the overall number from all state schools.

It is estimated that just 17 percent of university students are from working class backgrounds, a decrease of three percent in less than two years.

According to a recent survey by the Universities Marketing Forum, 47 percent of sixth formers questioned said that inability to afford fees was likely to put them off taking a degree course.