The Education Minister at the Assembly, Jane Hutt announced a review of Higher Education yesterday, to be chaired by Prof Mervyn Jones, Vice Chancellor of Bangor University. The review will, and I quote from the Minister's statement:
'The first stage of the review, to conclude by the end of September 2008, will consider student finance arrangements in Wales. In particular, the group will assess the extent to which student finance is targeted to widen access and encourage take up of priority subjects as well as the need to identify options to help tackle graduate debt.
The second phase will focus on reviewing the purpose and role for higher education in Wales taking account of the vision set out in Reaching Higher – the Assembly Government’s strategy for the higher education sector in Wales and its skills and employment strategy, Skills that Work for Wales. It will also look at higher education policy developments in England and Scotland as well as analysing the current and likely future demands and needs of learners, the economy and society. The second stage of the review should be completed by the end of February 2009.'
Both elements of the review are important of course, but I am largely interested in the possibility of any changes to student finance in Wales. No doubt people are aware of the role that I played in the student movement in campaigning against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales, and I am pleased therefore that the One Wales Government has committed to retaining the current student support arrangements until the end of this Assembly term.
Nevertheless, with the review of HE funding set to take place on a UK level next year, it is necessary for Wales to conduct a review to assess the options available for Wales- especially if the UK Government is intent on lifting the cap on top-up fees in England. I don't agree with Andrew RT Davies, Tory AMs comments that the timescale is tight on the review. Far too many reviews are long-winded and seemingly everlasting, and I hope that this committee can work diligently and effectively to assess all options available for Welsh students for the future.
I am against the implementation of top-up fees, I cannot deny that, but I know that there are people within the sector that believe that such fees should be introduced in order that they can properly fund their Institutions and develop their research capacity- effectively buying in to the idea that we need to create a market in the HE sector, much like the DWP are intent on advocating the marketisation of the welfare sector on a UK level.
I don't see how charging students for their education, and forcing them in to debt can be a way in which to develop our Institutions, and the ambition of Wales as a Nation. I also believe that to introduce such fees undermines the legitimacy of the widening access, and the lifelong learning agendas here in Wales.
Nevertheless, we have to discuss these issues frankly and honestly if we are serious about addressing the issues surrounding student finance and HE funding. I look forward to taking part in the process, and in reading the committee's report in September ( how I will respond to any recommendations made is another matter altogether!)
Showing posts with label Top-up fees. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Top-up fees. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Wednesday, 4 June 2008
Will the ' Welsh' Tory Party please stand up?
Gosh. Just heard Nick Bourne AM on a question to the Heritage Minister regarding supporting the commemoration of Owain Glyndwr! Whatever next? Supporting Welsh Independence?! I wonder whether their leader in Westminster knows what they are up to here in the Bay. After all, Alun Cairns Tory AM ( a Parliamentary candidate) has said on record during a debate last week that Cameron isn't their leader in Wales. For a Unionist party, they appear on face value to be on very shaky ground. But I know full well of course what the Tory strategy is in terms of merely appearing to be a unique Welsh party. However, we need only look at how Glyn Davies and his colleagues are refusing to accept that the decision on the right to buy be devolved to Wales to know that the cracks are appearing in the 'Welsh' Tory game.
The same divergence in opinion is clear from the Tory camp when discussing top-up fees. David Cameron has of course stated on numerous occasions that he now supports the rolling out of top-up fees, but his party in Wales purport to be able to take a differing line in opposing such fees here in Wales for now, at least ( or until the General election campaign kicks off) Again, there is a lack of consistency in the Tory spin machine, and a robust opposition in even admitting that they will have to take a UK Unionist opinion on most policy decisions and directions.
On the Referendum front, the Tories are holding a consultation process on whether they support future devolution for Wales. If this consultation results in a positive outcome to support a referendum on more powers for Wales, it will be highly interesting to see whether they place this in their Uk General election manifesto, and whether they will promise to enact on this if they take power on a UK level.
Of course, if the Tories win power at Westminster, or even if all the polls prior to the election indicate as such, I will be keeping a keen eye on Labour party activity in this area. I want to see whether or not those who are current devo sceptics in Labour's Unionist wing, (we all know who they are) and who are currently intent on talking down the referendum in the One Wales Government will be manouvering to change their mind, and to support future powers for our National Assembly in fear of losing all power in the devolved administrations.
The same divergence in opinion is clear from the Tory camp when discussing top-up fees. David Cameron has of course stated on numerous occasions that he now supports the rolling out of top-up fees, but his party in Wales purport to be able to take a differing line in opposing such fees here in Wales for now, at least ( or until the General election campaign kicks off) Again, there is a lack of consistency in the Tory spin machine, and a robust opposition in even admitting that they will have to take a UK Unionist opinion on most policy decisions and directions.
On the Referendum front, the Tories are holding a consultation process on whether they support future devolution for Wales. If this consultation results in a positive outcome to support a referendum on more powers for Wales, it will be highly interesting to see whether they place this in their Uk General election manifesto, and whether they will promise to enact on this if they take power on a UK level.
Of course, if the Tories win power at Westminster, or even if all the polls prior to the election indicate as such, I will be keeping a keen eye on Labour party activity in this area. I want to see whether or not those who are current devo sceptics in Labour's Unionist wing, (we all know who they are) and who are currently intent on talking down the referendum in the One Wales Government will be manouvering to change their mind, and to support future powers for our National Assembly in fear of losing all power in the devolved administrations.
Friday, 9 November 2007
Guest Blogger # 2 Carl Harris NUS Wales
This week’s guest blogger is Carl Harris. He studied Theatre at Trinity College,Carmarthen where he was later elected as the Deputy President of the Students' Union for two successive years. He has been involved with the National Union of Students' for 3 years and now works as the Deputy President of the NUS Wales.
For anyone that has heard of, or been involved in the national union, you may have often heard the line “we are the largest democratic organisation in Wales, representing over 250,000 students in the FE and HE sector”. In fairness this is a fact. Another fact is that the majority of our members are in the Further Education sector. However what have we done to justify that we really are the collective voice of students?
Well apart from… leading the fight against top up fees in Wales; pressuring the Government to stop universities charging every student a £50 administration fee to process their fees; winning 100% exemption from council tax and pressuring the Assembly Government to introduce the Assembly Learning Grant…There is still plenty more to do.
NUS Wales is here to promote, defend and extend the rights of students in Wales, and this year is no exception. Our priority campaigns focus on Education in the Further and Higher sector, the Welfare of students, and solidarity with our international counterparts.
On Higher Education - we will be campaigning to keep the cap on tuition fees in Wales and will be holding a demonstration outside the Welsh Assembly to highlight the amount of debt students in Wales are in after graduation. We want the WAG to recognise the amount of money that students put into the economy and to also recognise that students deserve free public transport in Wales – especially with the no doubt, soon to be rising cost of fees.
On Further Education – we have used the opportunity to input into the Webb Review and call for 1% of all FE college funding to go to Student Unions within that college. We believe it is fundamental that students have a voice over their education and can participate in decisions that affect them. Sufficient funding enables Unions to represent their students efficiently both internally and externally.
On Welfare – we are working with a number of external organisations to ensure that students have appropriate information and support in the areas of housing, health including sexual health, finance and employment rights. We begin our campaign in the New Year for Carbon Monoxide testers to be mandatory in all student houses/HMO’s.
There are many strands to all of our campaigns, and the above are just a few examples of what we are working on. I welcome any comments on what I’ve listed and hope they can cause some debate. If not, I am sure we’ve got plenty of other information that can cause a bit of controversy. Be sure to look out for our campaigns!
Well apart from… leading the fight against top up fees in Wales; pressuring the Government to stop universities charging every student a £50 administration fee to process their fees; winning 100% exemption from council tax and pressuring the Assembly Government to introduce the Assembly Learning Grant…There is still plenty more to do.
NUS Wales is here to promote, defend and extend the rights of students in Wales, and this year is no exception. Our priority campaigns focus on Education in the Further and Higher sector, the Welfare of students, and solidarity with our international counterparts.
On Higher Education - we will be campaigning to keep the cap on tuition fees in Wales and will be holding a demonstration outside the Welsh Assembly to highlight the amount of debt students in Wales are in after graduation. We want the WAG to recognise the amount of money that students put into the economy and to also recognise that students deserve free public transport in Wales – especially with the no doubt, soon to be rising cost of fees.
On Further Education – we have used the opportunity to input into the Webb Review and call for 1% of all FE college funding to go to Student Unions within that college. We believe it is fundamental that students have a voice over their education and can participate in decisions that affect them. Sufficient funding enables Unions to represent their students efficiently both internally and externally.
On Welfare – we are working with a number of external organisations to ensure that students have appropriate information and support in the areas of housing, health including sexual health, finance and employment rights. We begin our campaign in the New Year for Carbon Monoxide testers to be mandatory in all student houses/HMO’s.
There are many strands to all of our campaigns, and the above are just a few examples of what we are working on. I welcome any comments on what I’ve listed and hope they can cause some debate. If not, I am sure we’ve got plenty of other information that can cause a bit of controversy. Be sure to look out for our campaigns!
...................................................................................................
Y blogiwr gwadd ar fy mlog yr wythnos ‘ma yw Carl Harris. Fe wnaeth Carl astudio Theatr yng Ngholeg y Drindon, Caerfyrddin, lle ddaeth yn Ddirprwy Lywydd yn yr Undeb am dwy mlynedd yn olynol. Mae ef wedi bod yn rhan o UCMC am dair mlynedd, ac nawr fe yw Dirprwy Lywydd UCMC.
I’r rheiny ohonoch sydd wedi clywed am, neu wedi bod yn rhan o’r undeb cenedlaethol, mae’n bur debyg y byddwch yn gyfarwydd รข’r dataganiad “ni yw’r mudiad democrataiddd mwyaf yng Nghymru, yn cynrychioli dros 250,000 o fyfyrwyr yn y sector AB ac AU”. Mae hyn yn ffaith. Mae hefyd yn ffaith fod y mwyafrif o’n haelodau yn y sector Addysg Bellach. Serch hynny, beth ydym ni wedi ei wneud i gyfiawnhau’r honiad mai ni yw llais cyfunol myfyrwyr?
Ar wahan i… arwain y frwydr yn erbyn ffioedd cyflenwi yng Nghymru; gosod pwysau ar y Llywodraeth i atal prifysgolion rhag codi ffi weinyddol ar brosesu eu ffioedd; sicrhau eithriad 100% rhag treth y cyngor, a dwyn pwysau ar Lywodraeth y Cynulliad i gyflwyno Grant Dysgu’r Cynulliad…. Mae dal i fod digonedd i’w wneud.
Mae UCMC yma i hyrwyddo, amdiffyn ac ymestyn hawliau myfyrwyr yng Nghymru, ac nid yw eleni yn wahanol yn hyn o beth. Mae ein prif ymgyrchoedd yn canolbwyntio ar Addysg yn y sector Bellach ac Uwch, a sefyll yn gadarn gyda’n cyfeillion rhyngwladol.
Addysg Uwch – byddwn yn ymgyrchu i gadw’r cap ar ffioedd dysgu yng Nghymru a byddwn yn cynnal gwrthdystiad tu allan i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol er mwyn dwyn sylw at lefel dyledion myfyrwyr yng Nghymru pan fyddant yn graddio. ‘Rydym eisiau i Lywodraeth y Cynulliad sylweddoli faint o arian mae myfyrwyr yn ei gyfrannu at yr economi a hefyd cydnabod fod myfyrwyr yn haeddu teithio am ddim ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru – yn arbennig o gofio y bydd ffioedd yn sicr o gynyddu cyn bo hir.
Addysg Bellach – ‘rydym wedi defnyddio’r cyfle i gyfrannu at Adolygiad Webb ac wedi galw am 1% o gyllid pob coleg AB i fynd i Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn y coleg hwnnw. Credwn ei bod yn hanfodol bwysig i fyfyrwyr gael llais yn eu haddysg ac y gallant gyfranogi mewn penderfyniadau sy’n effeithio arnynt hwy. Mae cyllido digonol yn galluogi Undebau i gynrychioli eu myfyrwyr yn effeithiol, yn fewnol ac yn allanol.
Lles – ‘rydym yn gweithio gyda nifer o fudiadau allanol er mwyn sicrhau fod myfyrwyr yn cael gwybodaeth a chefnogaeth briodol ym meysydd llety, iechyd, gan gynnwys iechyd rhywiol, trin arian a hawliau cyflogaeth. Byddwn yn dechrau ein hymgyrch yn y Flwyddyn Newydd dros wneud offer canfod carbon monocsid yn orfodol ym mhob llety myfyrwyr a thai aml-ddeiliaid.
Mae yna sawl rhan i’n hymgyrchoedd; dim ond enghreifftiau o’r hyn ‘rydym yn gweithio arnynt yw’r uchod. Buaswn yn croesawu unrhyw sylwadau ar yr hyn ‘rwyf wedi eu rhestru, a gobeithio y gallant ysgogi rhywfaint o drafodaeth. Os na allant, mae’n sicr fod gennym ddigonedd o wybodaeth ddadleuol ar eich cyfer. Gwyliwch allan am ein hymgyrchoedd!
I’r rheiny ohonoch sydd wedi clywed am, neu wedi bod yn rhan o’r undeb cenedlaethol, mae’n bur debyg y byddwch yn gyfarwydd รข’r dataganiad “ni yw’r mudiad democrataiddd mwyaf yng Nghymru, yn cynrychioli dros 250,000 o fyfyrwyr yn y sector AB ac AU”. Mae hyn yn ffaith. Mae hefyd yn ffaith fod y mwyafrif o’n haelodau yn y sector Addysg Bellach. Serch hynny, beth ydym ni wedi ei wneud i gyfiawnhau’r honiad mai ni yw llais cyfunol myfyrwyr?
Ar wahan i… arwain y frwydr yn erbyn ffioedd cyflenwi yng Nghymru; gosod pwysau ar y Llywodraeth i atal prifysgolion rhag codi ffi weinyddol ar brosesu eu ffioedd; sicrhau eithriad 100% rhag treth y cyngor, a dwyn pwysau ar Lywodraeth y Cynulliad i gyflwyno Grant Dysgu’r Cynulliad…. Mae dal i fod digonedd i’w wneud.
Mae UCMC yma i hyrwyddo, amdiffyn ac ymestyn hawliau myfyrwyr yng Nghymru, ac nid yw eleni yn wahanol yn hyn o beth. Mae ein prif ymgyrchoedd yn canolbwyntio ar Addysg yn y sector Bellach ac Uwch, a sefyll yn gadarn gyda’n cyfeillion rhyngwladol.
Addysg Uwch – byddwn yn ymgyrchu i gadw’r cap ar ffioedd dysgu yng Nghymru a byddwn yn cynnal gwrthdystiad tu allan i’r Cynulliad Cenedlaethol er mwyn dwyn sylw at lefel dyledion myfyrwyr yng Nghymru pan fyddant yn graddio. ‘Rydym eisiau i Lywodraeth y Cynulliad sylweddoli faint o arian mae myfyrwyr yn ei gyfrannu at yr economi a hefyd cydnabod fod myfyrwyr yn haeddu teithio am ddim ar drafnidiaeth gyhoeddus yng Nghymru – yn arbennig o gofio y bydd ffioedd yn sicr o gynyddu cyn bo hir.
Addysg Bellach – ‘rydym wedi defnyddio’r cyfle i gyfrannu at Adolygiad Webb ac wedi galw am 1% o gyllid pob coleg AB i fynd i Undeb y Myfyrwyr yn y coleg hwnnw. Credwn ei bod yn hanfodol bwysig i fyfyrwyr gael llais yn eu haddysg ac y gallant gyfranogi mewn penderfyniadau sy’n effeithio arnynt hwy. Mae cyllido digonol yn galluogi Undebau i gynrychioli eu myfyrwyr yn effeithiol, yn fewnol ac yn allanol.
Lles – ‘rydym yn gweithio gyda nifer o fudiadau allanol er mwyn sicrhau fod myfyrwyr yn cael gwybodaeth a chefnogaeth briodol ym meysydd llety, iechyd, gan gynnwys iechyd rhywiol, trin arian a hawliau cyflogaeth. Byddwn yn dechrau ein hymgyrch yn y Flwyddyn Newydd dros wneud offer canfod carbon monocsid yn orfodol ym mhob llety myfyrwyr a thai aml-ddeiliaid.
Mae yna sawl rhan i’n hymgyrchoedd; dim ond enghreifftiau o’r hyn ‘rydym yn gweithio arnynt yw’r uchod. Buaswn yn croesawu unrhyw sylwadau ar yr hyn ‘rwyf wedi eu rhestru, a gobeithio y gallant ysgogi rhywfaint o drafodaeth. Os na allant, mae’n sicr fod gennym ddigonedd o wybodaeth ddadleuol ar eich cyfer. Gwyliwch allan am ein hymgyrchoedd!
You can contact Carl by emailing carl.harris@nus-wales.org.uk
Monday, 30 July 2007
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!
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!
Wednesday, 11 April 2007
New Labour Wales fail to rule out top-up fees in Manifesto
Having been a President of a Student's Union, and the first Union Officer to organise a mass lobby to the National Assembly against top-up fees, this issue shall always remain close to my heart- whatever my age. I am fundamentally opposed to top-up fees, as it does in fact price people out of education, and it creates a market of our education system.
We already see Vice Chancellor's in England wanting to push the fees up further from the current £3000, and research showing that the bursary scheme, which has been introduced to supposedly offset the top-up fee, is fraught with complications and is very ad hoc. In Wales of course, top-up fees were ruled out for Welsh domiciled students by the opposition parties, and it should remain so. Nevertheless this policy is up for review soon, which is why it galls me to read in Labour's Manifesto that there is no commitment on their behalf to rule out top up fees for Wales for the future.
Page 24 of Labour in Wales's Manifesto reads as follows:
'“The new funding arrangements that we have put in place for higher education and students from 2007/08 will support the sector in delivering for Wales. During a third term we will maintain this level of funding and monitor progress on widening access. We would anticipate reviewing these arrangements before the end of a third Assembly term.”
But over the border in Scotland, the Labour party, on Page 3 state:
' We will rule out top up fees in Universities for a third term'.
It seems that contrary to their Scottish colleagues, Labour in Wales are set upon pushing forward a regressive policy of top-up fees as they have purposely failed to rule out introducing such fees if they form a new Government in May. The Labour party have been very quiet of late on the whole issue of top-up fees and student funding, and they must hope that their page 24 pledge to review the situation will keep people happy! I am not so sure about that!
At the end of the day, the Russel Group of elite Universities want to increase fees to £7000. This group includes Cardiff University. If Labour wins an overall majority, Welsh students wanting to go to Cardiff could be faced with a hefty bill.
I hope that Student's Unions across Wales will take note of this, and prepare for a vigorous campaign ( again!) against top-up fees in Wales.
We already see Vice Chancellor's in England wanting to push the fees up further from the current £3000, and research showing that the bursary scheme, which has been introduced to supposedly offset the top-up fee, is fraught with complications and is very ad hoc. In Wales of course, top-up fees were ruled out for Welsh domiciled students by the opposition parties, and it should remain so. Nevertheless this policy is up for review soon, which is why it galls me to read in Labour's Manifesto that there is no commitment on their behalf to rule out top up fees for Wales for the future.
Page 24 of Labour in Wales's Manifesto reads as follows:
'“The new funding arrangements that we have put in place for higher education and students from 2007/08 will support the sector in delivering for Wales. During a third term we will maintain this level of funding and monitor progress on widening access. We would anticipate reviewing these arrangements before the end of a third Assembly term.”
But over the border in Scotland, the Labour party, on Page 3 state:
' We will rule out top up fees in Universities for a third term'.
It seems that contrary to their Scottish colleagues, Labour in Wales are set upon pushing forward a regressive policy of top-up fees as they have purposely failed to rule out introducing such fees if they form a new Government in May. The Labour party have been very quiet of late on the whole issue of top-up fees and student funding, and they must hope that their page 24 pledge to review the situation will keep people happy! I am not so sure about that!
At the end of the day, the Russel Group of elite Universities want to increase fees to £7000. This group includes Cardiff University. If Labour wins an overall majority, Welsh students wanting to go to Cardiff could be faced with a hefty bill.
I hope that Student's Unions across Wales will take note of this, and prepare for a vigorous campaign ( again!) against top-up fees in Wales.
Wednesday, 14 February 2007
Rising culture of debt amongst young people
A Western Mail article this week reports that more than half of school children have been in debt by the time that they reach the age of 17. The statistics were collated by the Personal Finance Education Group, and is a reflection of the general rise in debt levels across Britain.
The research highlights the fact that young people have a laid back attitude towards debt. It also suggests that young people are not phased by the prospect of having an overdraft -meaning that they can spend more than their average salary.
I am not surprised by these findings. When I was at University most of my friends, and myself included, merely accepted the fact that we would have £1000 of pounds worth of debt after graduating. We had no alternative but to accept it! The upfront fees and the living costs incurred meant that loans and repayments were a norm for us. It will certainly remain a norm for years to come unless something is done to change this debt culture.
The introduction of deferred fees merely 'defers' the burden of debt until post- graduation, when thousands of young people in Wales are forced to search for that perfect £15, 000 + 'graduate' job, when in fact there are very few such jobs currently available. As a result, a number of students are tempted to actively search for jobs lower than the £15,000 mark so that they do not have to pay back their student loan immediately after their period at University. Surely this isn't the correct attitude for our young people to be taking towards employment?
It's positive that this week, therefore, Plaid have announced key election policies, titled 7 4' O 7 - one of which will tackle student debt. Plaid are pledging to pay back a percentage of a students debt if they study and live in Wales. This is a new attempt at assisting young people, and in proclaiming that we can mount a challenge to our growing debt problem in Wales, and our attitudes towards it. I look forward to promoting this policy in the run up to the election as a young candidate, and to show young voters that we are prioritising the issues that affect them.
The research highlights the fact that young people have a laid back attitude towards debt. It also suggests that young people are not phased by the prospect of having an overdraft -meaning that they can spend more than their average salary.
I am not surprised by these findings. When I was at University most of my friends, and myself included, merely accepted the fact that we would have £1000 of pounds worth of debt after graduating. We had no alternative but to accept it! The upfront fees and the living costs incurred meant that loans and repayments were a norm for us. It will certainly remain a norm for years to come unless something is done to change this debt culture.
The introduction of deferred fees merely 'defers' the burden of debt until post- graduation, when thousands of young people in Wales are forced to search for that perfect £15, 000 + 'graduate' job, when in fact there are very few such jobs currently available. As a result, a number of students are tempted to actively search for jobs lower than the £15,000 mark so that they do not have to pay back their student loan immediately after their period at University. Surely this isn't the correct attitude for our young people to be taking towards employment?
It's positive that this week, therefore, Plaid have announced key election policies, titled 7 4' O 7 - one of which will tackle student debt. Plaid are pledging to pay back a percentage of a students debt if they study and live in Wales. This is a new attempt at assisting young people, and in proclaiming that we can mount a challenge to our growing debt problem in Wales, and our attitudes towards it. I look forward to promoting this policy in the run up to the election as a young candidate, and to show young voters that we are prioritising the issues that affect them.
Monday, 29 January 2007
Labour's 250 'achievements'- here's one I wrote earlier....
Dear Editor-
I would like to draw readers’ attention to detail in Labour’s election document, ‘Building a Better Wales- 250 achievements from your Labour Assembly Government’. In this document, New Labour claim credit for the fact that Welsh students do not pay top up fees in
In an Assembly debate on the 24th of May 2005, opposition Parties rallied together to win a vote of 30 to 29 to rule out the introduction of top up fees in
In the run up to the Assembly elections in May, we must not let this issue fall by the wayside, as the tired and centralist Labour party is no doubt biding it’s time to follow the London Labour line of introducing top up fees in Wales post election. One thing is certain, Plaid will continue to campaign for free education, and for the rights of students in
Bethan Jenkins Plaid Candidate
Wednesday, 17 January 2007
Youth Politics
I went to Swansea Institute on Monday with a Cymru X stall. It's generally hard to gauge students' opinion in January with exams going on, but I thought that it would be positive to at least try! Obviously some students didn't have much interest. I would be lying if I said that they all threw themselves at me! Others were interested, and came to talk to me specifically about our policies to match fund £5000 so that young people can place a deposit on their first home, and our pledge to pay back a % of a students loan after they graduate if they are welsh domiciled.
I think that it is great that youth issues are at the top of Plaid's political agenda at this election, as sometimes, it must be said, policies to attract young voters- amongst all the major Parties- are sparse ( bar the top-up fees one, obviously!)
Statistics say that many more young people are joining pressure groups like Amnesty and Oxfam than ever before, but only 17% of 18-25 year olds vote. We have to engage with young people much more so if we want them to be active when it comes to Party politics.
I've had some flack about being a young candidate for the Assembly election, but surely it's got to be positive for other young people to see that young politicians care about issues that affect them, and see that I am passionate about what I do.
I want to encourage young people to take part in politics, and make it something that they feel ownership for....We got Big Brother's Glyn on board. We must be doing something right!
Wednesday, 10 January 2007
Peter Black releases another statement on Top-up Fees....yawn....
I have just finished reading Peter Black AM's letter in the Western Mail concerning the Lib dems policy on Top-up Fees. Its just typical of the likes of Peter Black to go all out for the student vote as soon as he sniffs an election! He must think to himself, 'what can I do 4 months before an election? Oh, I'll try and get the student vote! I know, I'll mention fees! That'll get them!'
The letter is totally absurd in that he is 'challenging other parties to tell students where they stand (on fees)'. Why do you need to challenge us? Plaid has always campaigned against tuition fees and top-up fees, mainly through student groups at Universities across Wales, and through Student Union representation. While I was President of Aberystwyth Guild of Students, I was one of those who led the campaign against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales. If it hadn't been for us, the lobbying of AM's wouldn't have happened. The NUS Wales Labour posse were far too prepared to sit back and let fees be introduced in Wales, for fear of stepping on the toes of their beloved Jane Davidson.
The fact of the matter is that Plaid believes in free education, and are looking at new ways of funding Higher Education. We need to address the funding gap between English Universities and Welsh Universities, and continue to oppose top-up fees in Wales. Of course we can take the fight to Westminster again, but surely now that the Assembly has shown an example by taking a stand against fees, we can use that to our advantage to campaign on a Welsh level? Must everything be Westminster based?
I know that there are key figures in the Lib dems in Wales that are in favour of fees if only because they believe that there are no realistic alternatives. But we can't give up on the campaign for free education.
If Peter Black wants a challenge after that, I'm happy to oblige!
The letter is totally absurd in that he is 'challenging other parties to tell students where they stand (on fees)'. Why do you need to challenge us? Plaid has always campaigned against tuition fees and top-up fees, mainly through student groups at Universities across Wales, and through Student Union representation. While I was President of Aberystwyth Guild of Students, I was one of those who led the campaign against the introduction of top-up fees in Wales. If it hadn't been for us, the lobbying of AM's wouldn't have happened. The NUS Wales Labour posse were far too prepared to sit back and let fees be introduced in Wales, for fear of stepping on the toes of their beloved Jane Davidson.
The fact of the matter is that Plaid believes in free education, and are looking at new ways of funding Higher Education. We need to address the funding gap between English Universities and Welsh Universities, and continue to oppose top-up fees in Wales. Of course we can take the fight to Westminster again, but surely now that the Assembly has shown an example by taking a stand against fees, we can use that to our advantage to campaign on a Welsh level? Must everything be Westminster based?
I know that there are key figures in the Lib dems in Wales that are in favour of fees if only because they believe that there are no realistic alternatives. But we can't give up on the campaign for free education.
If Peter Black wants a challenge after that, I'm happy to oblige!
