‘Made in Wales’ policy saves Welsh students

By Laura Richards - Deputy News Editor

THE WELSH Assembly Government is planning a ‘Made in Wales’ policy which will subsidise the increase in tuition fees for Welsh domiciled students.

With the Government intending to announce the increase in tuition fees to £9000 per year, the Welsh Assembly have swiftly stepped in to meet the cost of the extra fees. Therefore Welsh students who begin their studies in 2012 will be paying the same amount for tuition as current students.

Welsh students will be able to study anywhere in the UK and still be subsidised by the Welsh Assembly. As well as this the income repayment threshold for student loans will increase from £15,000 to £21,000, with a variable progressive rate of interest charged depending on income.

Education Minister, Leighton Andrews, commented that “the arrangements put in place are fair, equitable and sustainable. Higher education should be on the basis of the individual’s potential and not on the basis of what they can afford to pay.”

However Peter Black, Liberal Democrat for South Wales West believes the move will mean that English students would be at a disadvantage to those in Wales and this could lead to resentment within the universities. He stated, “I do support the Welsh Government’s approach but feel that the fault lies with the UK Government and I urge them to reconsider their current proposal and look instead at following the lead of the Welsh Assembly.”

Protests over raised tuition fees are still continuing around the country, with tens of thousands of students in England protesting. Similarly, in both Cardiff University and at the Gower College in Swansea, around 100 students joined the growing number of protesters.

Sensationally, Business Secretary Vince Cable may abstain in the vote on university fees. The senior Liberal Democrat, whose party had initially opposed raising tuition fees, is now the minister responsible for universities. He revealed that he was willing to abstain from the vote if fellow colleagues chose to do the same despite his personal instinct being to back the rise. He revealed, “my own personal instinct, partly because I’m the secretary of state responsible for universities and partly because I think the policy is right, is very much to vote for it but we want to vote as a group.”

Black added, “I hope those that pledge to vote against a rise in tuition fees keep their promise. I accept that this will cause problems for Ministers who are bound by collective responsibility but the Coalition Agreement provides that they can abstain and I hope that they do so.”

The Student Unions from both Swansea University and Swansea Metropolitan are planning a rally and protest in Castle Square to mark the vote on Thursday 9th December.