皇冠体育app

In the podcast, the Deputy Prime Minister discusses the government鈥檚 plans to reform higher education funding.

Mr Clegg said the announcement earlier this week was one of the most difficult decisions taken by the Coalition Government.

But he said the changes will allow the coalition government to create an education system which promotes social mobility. Under the current system, children from affluent backgrounds are still seven times more likely to go to university than their counterparts from poorer homes.

皇冠体育app Deputy PM said:

皇冠体育app announcement we made this week about changes to the contributions that graduates make for their university education was one of the most difficult decisions we鈥檝e had to take in the coalition government, particularly for those of us who because of changing circumstances - the compromises of coalition government - have not been able to deliver the policies we had before.

But that doesn鈥檛 mean that we鈥檙e not able to deliver on the biggest ambition of all and that is to create an education system which promotes social mobility rather than entrenches inequality.

It鈥檚 just not right that poor children at a very early age don鈥檛 get the pre-school support they deserve. It鈥檚 just not right that bright but poor children fall behind in the classroom by the age of six, seven or eight and then find it difficult to catch up with less bright but more affluent children later on in school. It鈥檚 just not right that children from affluent backgrounds are seven times more likely to go to university than children from poor backgrounds.

And that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e changing.

So our plans include a 拢150 million National Scholarship Scheme to cut the cost of university for youngsters from poor backgrounds. We鈥檙e going to ensure that universities that choose to charge more for courses have to widen their intake. And under our repayment scheme many graduates - those earning the least - will pay much less than they do right now.

I want us to build a truly open society, where people can rise, regardless of their background; where the doors of all our institutions are flung open to all; and where higher education really is a right for all, not a privilege for the few. That鈥檚 our goal.

Under the plans, high-earning graduates will pay more towards their studies while bright students from poorer backgrounds will be given more help through measures such as a new 拢150 million National Scholarships Programme. 皇冠体育app threshold to pay for university costs when earning will also be raised from 拢15,000 to 拢21,000 and part-time students will be entitled to loans for the first time.

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