Letter: Government's low price for higher education
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: Your call for greater public investment in Britain's higher education is welcome. But the country's universities are not offered a subsidy to teach students, as your leading article states (29 December). They are paid a price (set by the Government) for the educational service provided - and it is widely felt within universities that the sum paid per science student is insufficient to sustain the high quality of undergraduate degrees.
That price is split into two parts: a fee, which is paid by the student's local authority, and a capitation sum, which is part of each university's block grant for teaching purposes. Both parts are being cut for the academic year 1994-95. The capitation sum will be reduced by an average of 4 per cent (called an 'efficiency gain' by the Government). The fee has been cut by one-third, to discourage recruitment of more science students.
That declining income per student has to cover staff costs, among other things. Salary levels have fallen substantially in relative terms in recent years, in large part due to government interference in the 'free collective bargaining' between universities and their employees' unions.
We look forward to your vigorous campaign for government to: (1) increase the price universities are paid for teaching students; and (2) allow academics to be paid the incomes they deserve (and have earned through unrewarded increases in productivity - of at least 40 per cent - over the past decade).
Yours faithfully
RON JOHNSTON
Vice-Chancellor
University of Essex
Colchester
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments