THE ENGLISH SYSTEM OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS Essay

THE ENGLISH SYSTEM OF EDUCATION AND SKILLS - Essay Example ligation to make contributions to the cost of their education once they are in work†¦ The Inquiry favours a combination of student tuition fees (on a loan basis) and the continuation of means-tested maintenance grants and student loans as the best way to seek contributions from higher income families and graduates in work†¦ to make a flat rate contribution of around 25 per cent of the average cost of higher education tuition, through an income-based mechanism." (Dearing) The removal of up-front fees and the limited return of grants are insufficient to offset the experience of student debt, especially by low-income families. Many poor families are positively deterred from entering HE due to the fees and concern of getting into debt. â€Å"We have neither the quantity nor the quality of necessary vocational skills†¦ Our skills base compares poorly and, critically, all of our comparators are improving. Being world class is a moving target.† (Leitch) Many of the initiatives other than those dealing with funding are positive for the UK higher education system. The thorny issue remains funding. The Leitch review published in 2006 also makes some suitable recommendations for the present-day UK HE system. These were made in response to the government’s concern in 2004 to engender greater skills in adults due to demographic changes in the workplace. 1. Students from poorer backgrounds would not be at a disadvantage, otherwise they may not be have the means to acquire HE at all, or they may feel obliged to opt for cheaper degree courses instead of selecting on the basis of academic considerations. High student fees are the single biggest obstacles to continuing their studies into higher education. 2. Enabling contributions by students should only be directed at students who are able to afford to pay for their own studies. Even then, students should only be expected to pay if and when they have obtained employment, and earning more than a minimum amount of