Documentary Proposal

Topic
Our chosen topic is whether University tuition fees should be increased from around £3000 to between £5000 and £20,000. Through this debate, we will look at a selection of opinions and the consequences this change might have on students looking to go to higher education, members of the UK Government and also views of taxpayers. The question we will discuss if the rise in fees will deter a student’s verdict to go to university, why this change may happen now, and whether this change will have any effects on employed people who have to pay taxes. Is it right for people’s salaries to contribute towards a student’s education and why doesn’t the UK Government make students fund for it themselves, through student loans and grants? Also our topic would touch on people’s views of the Government also considering lowering the amount of applicants approved into universities this year.

Key Facts
"The UK Government is in discussion about increasing tuition fees from £3000 to a minimum of £5000 with no upper limit" www.thisisguernsey.com

"£2000 rise in tuition fees would not dter students, even though fears of debt levels up to £32,000" - The Guardian, a report from university vice chancellors

"A survey of 250 admissions staff at 16 universities has revealed that undergraduates are entering university less numerate, less literate and less knowledgeable than ever before" - Guardian

"Undergraduates would not react if fees were raised to £5000, but admitted they would begin to turn their backs on university if costs increased to £7000" - The telegraph UK

"A staggering 85% of 18-24 oppose an increase in student tuition fees, with just 5% in favour according to poll conducted by YouGov for the UCU"-www.london-student.net

"British applicants may have a harder time gaining a place at a UK university next years, with Vice chancellors warning that the increase in the number of EU applicants along with new government legislation may result in the crowding out of qualified British nationals."-www.journal-online.co.uk

Principle positions and perspectives

Liberal view
A liberal view of our topic would be that everyone should have the freedom of individual liberality, so therefore if an individual decides to go to university they must take responsibility of paying their own tuition fees as it is their choice to attend higher education. Taxpayers shouldn’t have a portion of their salaries taken out to help fund most of a student’s tuition fees. But Stephen Williams, the Lib Dem skills spokesman, said: "Young people will be shocked that many of the vice-chancellors involved with this research would like to see tuition fees more than doubled. The conclusions would be very different if students' views were considered instead of just those of university chiefs."

Conservative view
Modern conservative view of our topic would be that the Government should contribute less towards university tuition fees as their focus is on simplifying and improving Government services. This may indicate trying to spend money on things they feel could have more of an impact on society. The Conservatives, who dropped their opposition to fees, accuse the government of planning to "push their long-promised review ever further into the long grass".

Marxism
A Marxism view is that a person is exploited if he or she performs more labour than necessary to produce the goods society consumes and a person is an exploiter if he or she performs less labour than necessary to produce goods. Their view on our topic would then be that going to university could be doing more labour than compulsory, so therefore could agree with the argument that the Government should contribute less. However, depending on the career that the potential university student wants to pursue, not going to university may mean that the individual performs less labour than is necessary.