Letter: Tuition fees will result in a skills deficit for future generations
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.Letter: Tuition fees will result in a skills deficit for future generations
Ros Wynne-Jones draws attention to the fall in the number of students applying to universities for 1998 following the Government's proposals to abolish grants and introduce fees for full-time undergraduates ("The gigantic confidence trick", 30 November).
If these proposals are introduced, we shall be passing on a large deficit in the skilled population, including doctors, teachers and engineers, to future generations. We shall also be denying a large section of the population the personal fulfilment they hoped to obtain through higher education.
If this Government is really committed to opening up access to education, it should look again at the financial needs of students and the factors that affect people from poorer backgrounds who study full-time for advanced qualifications. Surely it is better to encourage people into higher education now who can pay back the costs of their education through progressive taxation on their future earnings rather than deter potential students with the threat of a future of debt.
Ann Cotterrell
The National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education, London WC1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments