University Fees and Education Reform.

These two issues, though separate, are together. Universities have to charge for their services, whether the student, the taxpayer or a combination. Up until New Labour the taxpayer paid all of it. Then through the unpopular student loans, some of the burden fell to the students. Now a much bigger burden is to be borne in the shape of much bigger loans. The less well off, or those who take on the critical less well paid jobs, will bear a heavier burden because the loan will represent a proportionally larger debit against their net worth and their earnings. This may be necessary, but it cannot be right.

Into this unhappy situation comes Michael Gove and his proposed far reaching reforms. I have been critical of this clever minister and I did not altogether warm to his early plans for independent schools to be set up on a whim, but funded by the state. What he is trying to now is much more interesting. He is planning to empower teachers and upgrade their competence, rationalise the exam regime and the subjects taught and require the basics, rather than the fads, to have priority. What students actually know and what use is this knowledge in the wider world will once again drive the learning train, not the crackpot theories of academic good- for- nothings and gullible politicians.

This is important because it is the crass failure of the general education system to bring young people to school leaving age with any useful outcome, which has put such demand upon the universities to offer them a credible start in working life. If this can be sorted out, very many fewer students will need to go to university or gain any practical advantage from so doing. Instead they will be able to go into commerce, industry or public service, with a first class eduction. Those who do go to to university will be able to put their extra learning to good use for the benefit of us all. This is not happening now. This will change the cost base and make paying, by whatever method, a good deal easier.

It is morally questionable to make young people take out loans for thousands of pounds to pay for something they should already have been given free by the age of eighteen. A really good education to give them a start in life. I think the clever minister understands this. I hope so.

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