Thoughts on tuition fees

It surprised me when the Labour Government introduced tuition fees in the way they did. Firstly, the obvious, that they said that they had legislated to stop in and then brought them in for the next parliament.

Secondly, and mainly, why they didn't abolish the loans and introduce a graduate tax. It would have saved a lot of bother, students would not have left Uni with huge debts, but could have paid much more into the system than they took out. Each Uni could have levied differing amounts of percentage top up on income tax, up to a maximum of 3%.

The problem now is that the dye has been cast. Students have loads of debt, and to change the system could be seen as unfair. To change the system now would bring lots of up front cost for much later gain, and we cannot afford it now. If it had been changed earlier, the upfront costs could have been mitigated.

I'm afraid that we are left with this bad system, which appears to be unfair and looks like getting worse. Ironically, if the Tories had introducded tuition fees and the same time as student grants maybe a graduation tax could have been implemented then, but I guess that the Tories don't like the graduation tax principle. I think it is fair and sound.

Squiffy.