Jamie Greene, Scottish Conservative and Unionist candidate for Cunninghame North has made a plea for the SNP to look at introducing contributions from graduates to help fund Education in Scotland.
Under plans proposed by the Scottish Conservatives graduates who have enjoyed a university education would be asked to pay back a contribution once they got a decent job and were able to contribute. At the moment education is free to all students of all financial backgrounds in both further and higher establishments.
The controversy over student fees dates back many years, Jamie recalled when he went to University the debates raged over UK funding of universities. In Scotland, students currently pay no fees whereas students in England and Wales are required to contribute.
Speaking to press, Jamie said “Look I get that this isn’t a popular topic and it’s easy to try and turn it into a vote winner by pretending that free higher education for all is affordable and doable. The reality of the situation is not as plain sailing as the SNP would have you believe.
Money raised from graduate contributions, i.e. not upfront fees, could actually be used to help increase bursaries for poorer students who, under the current scheme, can't even walk through the door. This is a sensible and moderate plan and it will help those most in need, but instead, the SNP is rejecting it for purely ideological reasons. Nicola Sturgeon doesn't want to change the system because her predecessor's vanity project is etched on a stone tablet in the grounds of a Scottish university.”
He added “The facts are plain – only one in ten of our poorest 18-year-olds make it to university, a fraction in comparison to their wealthy contemporaries. The SNP's approach to higher education is failing poor students. They have slashed college places since coming to power to try balance the books and they pretend that poorer kids are making to Uni because of their free for all approach. It simply isn’t working. I think that once you are in a good job it is right to pay back to society and help those who need it most."