Tuition fees

The current system by which we fund university education is one of the more sickening examples of economic sleight of hand.
A large portion of university  degrees are being funded through taxation yet we obscure this fact and at the same time burden students with the illusion of debt.

Natalie Bennett was right when she said that providing further education to young people is a public good,  but we deny this:
while at the same time  most people  (presumably) agree that it is good for the country that more people should go to university, we put unnecessary barriers in the way in the form of an (in most cases) imaginary "loan".


Under the current system, we make the more able students (or at least those who get a well paid job after graduating)  pay individually for their degree, yet for those (less successful) who don't, we effectively give them a grant funded through taxation; instead of admitting this, we use econospeak, and make them suffer the burden of a debt even though we as a nation pay for it all in end.  Why not make it fair and extend this to the more able students as well (without the "loan" doublespeak)?

They would pay anyway under a fairer progressive taxation system.

If we really believe that it is in the national interest for all young people to be given the opportunity for further development (further education or apprenticeships) then we should have the courage to sell the idea to the general public so that they can see why money for further education, (and for apprenticeships) should come from taxation.

To do otherwise,  as now, undermines young people and deceives taxpayers by giving the impression that they no longer 'pay for other people's children to be educated'.
It supports the denial of the idea of an inclusive nation - as a 'community', in favour of the  exclusive 'survival of the fittest' (rather greedy) mentality that is currently permeating society.

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