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Blair came in and just abolished the grant completely.
I think that was part of the idea of getting more folk to go to university by expanding loans rather than a means to exclude: I suppose it's part of the idea that individuals should be able to invest in their own future, rather than the dangerously subversive notion that as a nation we might consider education as an investment in the country's future.
The move to tuition fees that went along with it was based on a study/report (Dearing, according to Wikipedia) - no idea what the terms of reference were though.
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I think the grants went after the LIB Dem Coalition finished.
I fortunately got a grant for my tuition fees 2005-2008 at the time it was about £1500 a year normally.
A few years later my sister was paying £9k a year.And then the Tories sold off our debt to private companies, so my large interest payments are now lining the pockets of a company instead.
https://www.independent.co.uk/student/news/student-loans-sales-debt-private-companies-treasury-graduates-ps12bn-a7565716.htmlI personally think education IS an investment in the future of the country - we invest up until 16 years old and then FE until later if studying locally - for that very reason, surely?
....I suppose the argument is if that investment should carry on until 21/22 years old.
True but I was a student at the time and remember the Tory plan was to stop when it was 50% loan 50% grant.
Blair came in and just abolished the grant completely.