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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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University Admission figures justify opposition to tuition fees
October 19, 2006 3:07 PM
Peter Black at a top up fees demonstration
Provisional figures from the University admissions service, Ucas, have justified Liberal Democrat opposition to tuition fees and backed up the settlement for Welsh students forced on Labour by the opposition parties, according to Welsh Liberal Democrat Education Spokesperson, Peter Black.
The figures show that 389,505 applicants were accepted on UK full-time higher education courses starting this year compared with 404,668 in 2005. This represents a fall of 3.7% between 2006 and 2005. The total number of English applicants accepted on to UK full-time education courses starting in 2006 fell 4.5% from 301,206 in 2005 to 287,739 in 2006. In contrast, the number of students from Wales accepted on to UK full-time higher education courses in the same period showed only a 0.3% drop from 16,849 to 16,801.
"The contrast is stark," said Mr. Black. "In England where top-up fees have been introduced for the first time, there has been a significant fall-off of student enrolments, whilst in Wales, where we do not have top-up fees this year and where Welsh students in Welsh universities will be exempt next year, we have bucked the trend."
"The evidence is now undeniable - top-up fees deter people from going to university. The UK Government must reconsider this mistaken policy that has such a negative impact on our educational system and on our ability to attract the most talented youngsters into higher education. There is a real danger that the market that has been created in education as a result of these fees will mean that we fail to produce the next generation of scientists, managers, entrepreneurs and leaders that Britain is so dependent on for its prosperity."
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