Students will not be fooled by Government 'hit and run' over higher education bill

Responding to reports in today’s Daily Telegraph that the Government have shelved plans to introduce a Higher Education bill until at least 2015, the National Union of Students (NUS) warned that, even if true, the Government would look to make the changes without legislative scrutiny or adequate protections for students.

NUS warned that many of the most damaging proposals contained in the Government's white paper could now be implemented under the radar, without the involvement of MPs or peers, raising the prospect that students would fail to receive appropriate protection following the tripling of tuition fees to £9,000.

Liam Burns, NUS President said:

“By hiking tuition fees and then failing to adequately provide protection ministers have made students the victims of a legislative hit and run."

“The Government must come clean now on what changes they have planned for higher education and not leave it until after the next election to clean up the mess their car crash policy making has made."

"Having lost the battle of public opinion over the trebling of tuition fees, the Government is clearly not up for another public battle on its plans to sell off our education and will look to do it in private and under the radar instead."

"We must not be fooled into thinking our universities are safe from further attack, as many planned reforms could now be pushed through by ministers without the parliamentary debate that could have secured crucial safeguards. Two week holidays in Majorca currently have more protection than students facing £9,000 fees."