Belfast News: NI Becomes The Land Of The Fee!

The verdict on whether Northern Ireland students should pay higher fees appears to be in and the only big surprise is that although the NI Executive appear ready to inflict more pain across Northern Ireland, that they lack the political courage to do it before the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly Elections.

The news comes after an update to a report commissioned by the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL), which despite originally advising a freeze and has now recommended that annual student fees should rise from about £3,000 to a maximum £5,750.

The news has not been greeted well, with Professor Richard Barnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ulster commenting 'Given the pressure on the executive's budget and
the budget allocation to the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), the latest recommendations of the Stuart Review come as no surprise'. 'It is regrettable that it would appear there will be a marked increase in tuition fees in Northern Ireland despite the University of Ulster voicing concerns that such a rise could act as a deterrent for people from low income backgrounds entering higher education'.

It would appear that those within our society both in business and parliament, that for the most part benefited from the option of fully funded or subsidized university education are to hammer another nail in the coffin of the aspirations of our nation's poorest. Of course to understand the full reason's as to why 'the lady is now for turning' in reversing her original findings users will have to consult Joanne Stuart's review, but you do not need to have a university education to understand why the Ulster Unionist Minister for DEL and his NI Executive colleagues have chosen to leave a vote on the recommendations until after they have secured your vote, this May.

Welcome to Northern Ireland, the land of the Fee!

Last Updated: 8th February 2011