No hike in Top-up fees in the next two years. You should be thankful.

So the Government are not going to raise the cap on top-up fees in the next two years according to the Independent. Well, as is noted in the article, this isn't really new. The Government did not intend to review the situation until 2009, but cynically, I believe that they have been prompted to re-iterate their pledge due to pressure placed on the Government by the Russell Group to increase the fees before the 2009 bench-mark.

This announcement also come to light as a result of the figures released today by the National Audit Office which outlines that 10,000 students a year fail to continue their studies following their first year at University. For now, students can rest in the knowledge that they will have a little less debt when they finish University due to this announcement, but how long the Government can retain this policy is another question entirely.

The parameters of the campaign have moved considerably since I was involved. At the outset it was a campaign against the concept of fees and up-front tuition fees, this then moved on to the battle against the £3,000 top-up fee which was duly introduced for students studying in England, now it is a sorry case of opposing the hike on such fees as opposed to rejecting the concept. Here in Wales, the top-up fee debate is brimming under the surface, and I am sure the Student Movement will be prepared for yet another fight!