IEA: Any cap ties the hands of universities
Steve Davies, education director at the Institute of Economic Affairs, comments in response to the tuition fees proposals put forward today:
“The government’s proposals are welcome, but water down a very important part of Lord Browne’s original report – that being that universities will be allowed truly to set their own fee levels.
“If the UK is to have a world-class university sector, institutions must be allowed and encouraged to compete, and being able to set their own fees is a very important way of doing this.
“By imposing a cap of £9,000, the government has tied the hands of universities and closed the sector to the liberating effects of market forces. It is, however, encouraging that universities have not been saddled with meeting arbitrary intake levels of students from poorer backgrounds.
“Competition for teachers and students is the key factor in promoting excellence in an education system and today’s proposals only go part way towards achieving that. The government has started down the road towards a reformed university sector but has, unfortunately, put the brakes on before true change has been secured.”
