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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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Students will end up paying for Labour-Plaid government's failings
November 28, 2008 12:00 AM
Peter Black talks to students during a demonstration against top up fees
South Wales West Welsh Liberal Democrat AM, Peter Black has attacked the Labour-Plaid Cymru coalition government for creating a minefield in Higher Education funding, which will drive future students in to higher levels of debt.
Commenting on a government-led consultation on Higher Education funding that will end the scheme which means Welsh students studying in Welsh universities pay no top-up fees, Mr. Black said:
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"The One Wales Government has painted itself into a corner as a result of its failure to address the growing funding gap between universities in England and Wales. As a result it seems that the next generation of students in Wales will be left to pick up the bill.
"If the Assembly Government go ahead with this plan to introduce top-up fees for Welsh students attending Welsh universities then they will be responsible for adding further to the £20,000 debt graduates already expect to owe when they leave college. Many debt-averse students from poorer families will be put off going to university by the prospect of paying a £3,000 plus a year fee. Even the proposed bursary system will only offer limited help. Evidence from England, where this is in place already, shows that it is confusing and difficult to access. Many colleges use bursaries as a marketing scheme rather than to assist hard-off students."
"The Welsh Liberal Democrats fought the last Assembly election on the basis that we would continue to resist top-up fees until 2011. Fundamentally, we believe that the ability to learn should be the only criteria - not the ability to pay."
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