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Peter Black and South Wales West Liberal DemocratsRepresenting Aberavon, Bridgend, Gower, Neath, Ogmore, Port Talbot, and Swansea |
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Survey shows why Wales needs to resist top-up fee moves says AM
August 8, 2006 10:17 PM
Forty Five percent of UK students work an average of 16 hours a week, and are on course to earn a staggering £2.3 billion over the year, a new survey has said.
The study by the Royal Bank of Scotland clearly shows why it is vital that Wales continues its opposition to top-up fees, and why the UK cap on overall college fee payments should be maintained, according to Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson Peter Black.
"These findings confirm, if confirmation were needed, that the removal of the fees cap and the imposition of top-up fees in Wales would be a backwards step," said Mr. Black. "I was delighted to see that Cardiff came top in terms of value for money and student earnings of the 26 cities surveyed; however the fact remains that students are actually at University to study and get degrees, which will enable them to use their talents, and contribute to society. That they have to spend time working in order to stay on their courses leaves less time for learning and thinking."
"That is why the Welsh Liberal Democrats forced New Labour in Wales to re-introduce grants when we were in government, and why we oppose top-up fees. Labour, and Dave Cameron's Tories, appear not to care that students either have to spend time working when they could be studying, or that less well-off students may not even get to college. If Welsh New Labour are serious about helping students then they should be pressurising their cronies in Westminster to leave the fees ceiling in place in 2009, and rule out top-up fees in their next Welsh manifesto."
Ends
Note to Editors
The RBS Index shows that over the next year, university students will spend £10 billion on living and accommodation costs; but almost half of all students will work part-time during term to earn some extra cash. In total, these hard-working students expect to earn £2.3 billion. It also says that the most popular part-time student jobs are in bars and clothes shops, but more unusual occupations include turf accountants, life guards and charity fundraisers. More worryingly, it suggests that half of undergraduates (52 per cent) still underestimate the weekly cost of living expenses and rent at university.
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