UNDERGRADUATES could soon have to pay towards the cost of their tuition, said Kenneth Edwards, the chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals, speaking in London late last month.
Edwards argued that the number of students going on to higher education will increase and universities will need extra funds to finance their expansion. “These capital needs are unlikely to be completely met from public funds. In an ideal world the full funding of higher education would be a public commitment, but this is unlikely to happen,” he said.
Pointing out that in the five years up to 1994 tuition income per student had fallen by 26 per cent, Edwards said: “It is likely that some student contribution towards the costs of tuition will be necessary.”
