Principal welcomes new fees (From Warrington Guardian)

Principal welcomes new fees

THE principal of University College Chester, which has a campus in Warrington, has welcomed Government plans to increase top up fees but wants to see further improvements before the new education bill is debated for a third time.

Professor Tim Wheeler says one of the big advantages of the bill, which has students paying £3,000 a year in tuition fees, is that youngsters will not have to face the immediate burden of forking out money for courses before they start university.

However Mr Wheeler still has reservations about the high levels of debt facing students once they leave university, as graduates will have to repay the money when they earn more than £15,000.

Mr Wheeler added: "What is not in dispute is that higher education is still desperately in need of a massive capital injection.

"This would tackle decades of maintenance backlogs and under investment in capital projects and provide adequate revenue to give students a first-rate learning experience as well as giving staff a fair reward for their efforts."

He added: "We welcome the prospect of additional resources that will enable us to make an even greater contribution to the Warrington community."

The controversial plans detailed in the Higher Education Bill were supported by 316 MPs, including Warrington's Helen Southworth, in a vote last week with 72 opposing the motion and 19, one of which was Helen Jones, MP for Warrington North, choosing to abstain.

University College Chester, which runs courses at the old Padgate campus of Warrington Collegiate, also supports the plans to increase the student maintenance grant, proposals to write-off debts after 25 years and the Government's intention to review its policy on variable fees after three years.