In ysterday's Guardian, there is an article that reveals that the government have been in secret talks concerning banks taking some responsibility for providing student loans. This is yet another move towards the commercialisation of education.
This angers me a great deal. For too long have we allowed the idea that it is simply the individual who benefits from higher education and in turn this has allowed governments (and I include New Labour in this) to move away from the idea of universal education towards an idea of privately funded education.
In my mind, there is no reason why, if one supports free access to education at age 5, that same person will therefore not agree with the same principle at age 18.
This principle does not have to be agreed with on the basis of having a socialist outlook, although of course it is on my part. Indeed, as a country we need to move to a consensus where we appreciate that we all benefit from a highly educated workforce.
It is important that everyone is encouraged to achieve their potential, and it is foolish to believe that introducing privately financed loans on top of extortionate tuition feels will not discourage poorer students from doing so.
My honest belief is that higher education should be fully funded through general taxation. Tuition fees be scrapped and we should move towards the principle of free universal education at all points in life, starting from a child's first day at school, and continuing through to mature students.
It should be the intention of anyone who believes in equality of opportunity to ensure that funds are set aside to educate the population, and it is essential that the extreme cuts put into place by the current government are overturned to ensure that the UK can have high quality education provision, at all levels.
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