With events in Afghanistan never far away from delegates’ thoughts, and with security at an all-time high, this year’s Labour Party conference in Brighton was bound to be somewhat subdued. ‘The TES’ team reports on the main events
THE Government is poised to launch a graduate tax, and re-introduce student grants, after admitting this week that the current system for funding young people through university was deterring applications. Ministers could also abolish tuition fees - just four years after introducing them.
A cross-departmental team, led by Estelle Morris, is understood to be looking at two alternative models for funding a radical shake-up of student support. This follows anger from students and their families on the doorsteps of this year’s General Election campaign.
In the first model, everyone would receive grants and pay a contribution following graduation. Under the second scheme there would be means-tested grants for some. Student loans could be scrapped completely or continue for those who don’t receive grants. Both options would be funded by a graduate tax, payable over 20-25 years, which could be added on to the basic 10 per cent rate of income tax.
Tuition fees were introduced in 1997 to fund a major expansion of higher education. The Government wants to see 50 per cent of young people under 30 going to university by 2010.
