Two-thirds of Scots think a graduate contribution is fair

The Scottish Social Attitudes Survey shows that 63% of people in Scotland think students should pay at least something towards their tuition.

Liz Smith, Scottish Conservative Education Spokesperson, said:

"This is more evidence that Scots are fair minded and accept that it is fair for graduates to make a contribution towards the cost of their University education.

"In a perfect world everything would be free. But in the real world, voters accept that the costs have to be spread.

"Last week, we learned from the Office of National Statistics that, on average, a University graduate will earn £12,000 a year more than those who have not gone to university. Over a working life, that is a pay boost of half a million pounds.

"Despite all the evidence, Labour, Lib Dems and the SNP refuse to find the money needed to bridge the real funding gap. The Scottish Conservative proposals for a graduate contribution, paid from future earning, at an affordable rate will mean that Scotland's universities can retain their excellence, retain their student numbers and we can also boost bursary support for students from poorer backgrounds by £55 million a year.

"By contrast, the deficit deniers in the other parties threaten our Universities' standing, threaten up to 13,000 student places and are out of tune with public opinion."

Please click on the link for more information from the Scottish and British Social Attitudes Survey from October 2010 – key extract from the BBC report is immediately below:

"But it's not clear whether Scots are so keen on providing free tuition to all students."

"The most recent surveys show 63% of people north of the border think students should pay at least something towards their tuition, while in England, it's 66%.

"Only 30% of Scots agree with the Scottish government that no student should pay towards tuition, while that's true of 25% in England. So not much difference across the border there."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11506103

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