Student tuition fees are set to be ditched in favour of new charges based on a graduate‘s income, universities minister David Willetts said.



According to Daily Mail on Monday, in a surprisingly frank intervention, Willetts said ministers had a ‘preference‘ for funding universities through a ‘graduate contribution‘ in future rather than the current fees.



His comments appear to preempt an independent review of university funding by former BP boss Lord Browne, and suggest that Business Secretary Vince Cable has won the Cabinet row over plans for a graduate tax.



Though the coalition government had settled on a tax rather than tuition fees to pay for higher education Willetts, who enjoyed a free education at Oxford , said the exact design of the graduate ‘contribution‘ was still to be decided.



But he said it would be ‘progressive‘, adding, “As people earn more, they pay more back.” He said graduates typically earned £100,000 more over a lifetime than non-graduates and should contribute to the cost of their education, with the better-off paying most.



He added, ‘We‘re talking about a graduate contribution paid by people out of their earnings when they‘re in employment.‘



The idea of a graduate tax is anathema to many Tories, who see it as little more than an excuse for levying another tax on the middle classes. As a result, ministers have now started referring to it as a contribution.



Business Secretary, Vince Cable backed the graduate tax above tuition fees



It has also caused concern among universities, who fear that much of the cash will go to the Treasury rather than returned to higher education.



Backing for the proposal came as a new study warned a graduate tax could lead to millions of teachers, nurses and others on modest incomes facing tax bills of more than £36,000.



Research by the University and College Union found that many graduates would end up paying back ‘considerably more‘ than they do under the current scheme under which they are charged £3,290 a year in fees.



Mr. Willetts also admitted yesterday that students who get good A-level results could still miss out on a university place.



Demand has far outstripped the 10,000 extra places funded by the Government this year, thanks to the scarcity of jobs.



He said, “I realise this, it is going to be tough. There are young people who sadly are not going to get a place, including perhaps some young people who really have got good A-level grades.”



He told the BBC‘s Andrew Marr Programme that youngsters who miss out should try again next year and look for training or work experience in the meantime.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201008100243462

For God sake how does this relate to me in Lagos Nigeria

this applies to home(UK) students only

not foreign students,so dont get your hopes up

Lalaska:

For God sake how does this relate to me in Lagos Nigeria

I was wondering too? I actually got confused initially because of the names being mentioned and even the title 'universities minister' lol

And this made the home?
despite not being related to Nigeria??