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Yes, the debt is very problematic. It is also true that before fees, top universities were struggling to recruit from outside of the usual middle class, often privately educated elite. Fees are one solution, though a very flawed one. A better solution wasn't put on the table. perhaps someone should come up with one. And yes, I think the connection is simple: "I can get a loan to afford this now, so I'll go".
What does this even mean?
Top universities weren't able to recruit from outside the privately educated middle classes so fees were raised? Huh?
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I think it means one or two things:-
a) Universities used to fill up their places from the middle classes. When fees came in fewer of them went, so there were more spaces for others. So it helped diversity indirectly.
b) The fees (and loans to cover them) coincided with an increase in the amount students could borrow to cover their living expenses, which meant that those without the savings (or help from parents) could now afford (by borrowing) to go to University.
But that's just my guess.
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It's confusing, but it is happening.
"18 year-olds from disadvantaged areas reached their highest ever application rate at the end of the UCAS admissions cycle in 2014, and these gains have continued into the 2015 cycle—the January deadline application rate for this group was also at a record high."
https://fullfact.org/education/have-governments-tuition-fee-reforms-worked/
Like I said, I'm not comfortable with the debt culture either, but I dont think the fees question is black and white.
Greenbank
William.
Yes, the debt is very problematic. It is also true that before fees, top universities were struggling to recruit from outside of the usual middle class, often privately educated elite. Fees are one solution, though a very flawed one. A better solution wasn't put on the table. perhaps someone should come up with one. And yes, I think the connection is simple: "I can get a loan to afford this now, so I'll go".
I don't expect anyone on here to agree with this, so I'll accept in advance that these views make me an evil tory, and we can get back to the leadership discussion :)