September students’ university funding approved

September students’ university funding approved

However, following a successful amendment from outgoing Senator Philip Ozouf, the new scheme is only an interim measure until long-term funding for the scheme can be found and agreed by the new States Assembly.

The move as approved does, however, significantly improve the amount of funding available to prospective university students and their parents.

A grant scheme for higher education funding was first mooted during last year’s Budget debate by Treasury Minister Alan Maclean.

Under the scheme, students from households earning under £110,000 per year will have the full cost of university tuition fees covered up to £9,250 a year. Those earning up to £200,000 will have some of the costs covered on a sliding scale.

Senator Maclean said the fact that he was not seeking a return to the States showed that these proposals were not ‘an election giveaway’ and that he could not think of a more worthwhile proposal than a scheme which would improve access to higher education for the Island’s young people.

The new system also includes an increased maintenance grant, allowing families earning up to £50,000 to claim £7,500 in living costs. Those earning up to £90,000 would be eligible for living costs on a sliding scale.

Senator Maclean said: ‘The cost of investing in education has risen significantly in recent years. Parents and students are citing these costs as a barrier or as causing considerable hardship to those that do [pay for higher education].

‘This proposition aims to make higher education more affordable and reduce the pressures on families at the same time.’

He added that providing higher education grants would help provide a highly skilled workforce for the economy and that supporting the Island’s young people was crucial.

Senator Maclean also said that a loan scheme would not be suitable as it risked putting students into thousands of pounds worth of debt.

The scheme is to be funded through departmental underspends and the phasing out of the Higher Child Allowance – a tax break for families with children at university. However, Senator Maclean has previously warned that funding would need to be found to continue the scheme in the longer term.

The amendment from Senator Ozouf means that the plans are only an ‘interim measure’ while funding for the scheme on a long-term basis is found in the next Medium Term Financial Plan.

Senator Ozouf said this would provide certainty to those planning to go to university within the next three years, while forcing the next Council of Ministers to review the plans and set aside the money for the continued approval of the scheme.

Deputy Jeremy Maçon, the chairman of the Education and Home Affairs Scrutiny Panel, said: ‘What is coming forward is not a perfect scheme, but it is certainly a scheme that is going to provide much more help and support to many young people and their families in the Island.’

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