Lib Dems promise lower class sizes
Charles Kennedy has promised that the Liberal Democrats would reduce primary class sizes and replace GCSEs and A-Levels with a new diploma system if elected.
Top-up fees and tuition fees would also be abolished with universities paid for with money raised by a new 50 pence top-rate of income tax for those earning in excess of £100,000.
Launching his party’s education mini-manifesto at a press conference in Exeter this morning and placed “access to a quality education” at the heart of his party’s strategy.
“We will lower infant class sizes to 20 and juniors to 25. This means over 20,000 more teachers who will have more time with every child to bring out the best in them,” he said.
“It isn’t targets that make the difference, it is expert, enthusiastic, world class teachers. So in English, maths, science, ICT and modern languages we’re guaranteeing parents that their child will be taught by a qualified professional.”
Mr Kennedy said his party would replace the National Curriculum with a Minimum Curriculum Entitlement and underlined the Liberal Democrats’ commitment to a new diploma for 14- to 19-year-olds.
A four-part diploma to replace GCSEs and A-levels was proposed by Sir Mike Tomlinson, the former chief inspector of schools, yet was rejected last month in the Government’s Education White Paper – despite strong backing from the education profession.
The Liberal Democrats believe that there higher education policies will ensure they gain strong support among students and Mr Kennedy suggested that Labour’s vote was “collapsing”.
Mr Kennedy said: “We should not be saddling our young people with huge debts as they start out in life. And people from low-income backgrounds should not be put off university because of the costs. Higher education should be based on the ability to learn not the ability to pay.
“Current polling already suggests that the Labour vote in our colleges and universities has collapsed. According to the 2005 Student Opinion Survey, a third of all students are planning to vote for the Liberal Democrats.”
