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Student leaders told 'no top up fees'.
30/10/2003
The Executive's commitment not to introduce university
top-up fees was reinforced during a meeting tonight between
Deputy First Minister Jim Wallace and Scotland's student
leaders.
At the National Union of Students annual reception in
Edinburgh, Mr Wallace said the decision not to introduce
top-up fees was a key element of the Partnership Agreement
which was the basis for the governing coalition.
He added that tuition fees themselves had been scrapped
by the Executive during the last Parliament.
The Minister noted that the potential effects of top-up
fees in England were being carefully considered by the
third phase of the Executive's Higher Education Review,
which the NUS was involved in, and which would inform
future Executive policy on issues including Higher
Education funding.
He said:
"We are determined not to discourage anyone from
accessing higher education in Scotland, and so will not
introduce top up fees.
"It is essential that higher education is open to
students of all backgrounds. Our decision to scrap tuition
fees in the last Parliament was an important step in
widening access.
"We have also taken steps to encourage less well-off
students into higher education, through the Young Student
Bursary and Mature Students Bursary Fund, for example.
"We are aware that top up fees being introduced may
affect Scotland, which is why we have set up our Review.
This study, which involves key stakeholders, will help
inform future policy."
The Higher Education Review has four sub-groups, looking
at different topics including student issues such as
cross-border flows, with NUS chairing this group.
The results of the Review will be reported to Ministers
in early 2004.
Mr Wallace said:
"It is crucial that the Executive and NUS Scotland work
together to ensure the best deal for Scotland's students.
NUS are playing a vital role in the Higher Education
Review.
"We have developed a positive working relationship with
NUS during this work, and want to develop this relationship
in the longer-term.
"We are currently in the process of an informal funding
for learners review. This will help ensure that funding
arrangements are equitable across the sectors of higher and
further education.
"We want to continue to engage with students, including
NUS Scotland, during this process to help keep arrangements
for students remain as simple and accessible as
possible."
Rami Okasha, NUS Scotland President, said:
"We are delighted that the Scottish Executive has
recognised that top-up fees will deter access, put students
into hardship, and that they will not be introduced in
Scotland.
"This is a major step forward for devolution, and we
welcome the Scottish Executive's response, through the
third phase of the Higher Education Review, to the
implications the white paper has for Scottish students. We
look forward to working with the Scottish Executive on
these issues."