Education - Paying For It 2011

Education: £67.8bn

November 23rd, 2011

A high quality education system is essential for both economic growth and for providing all citizens with the opportunity to succeed in life.

Reform university funding

Increase university fees and lower the level at which students start repayments so that students bear more of the costs themselves.
Pros & Cons

PRO Those benefiting from a university education should pay for it rather than the general taxpayer.

CON Could deter many from going to university, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, who tend to need more encouragement.
Cut free pre-school education

Education is a large area of public spending. Savings can be found by abolishing free pre-school education and asking parents to contribute more towards the costs of raising their children.
Pros & Cons

PRO These savings will contribute towards reducing the deficit and will be fairer to those taxpayers without children.

CON Early education greatly improves educational attainment and life chances. Scrapping it may make it difficult for parents to afford childcare and return to work.
Maintain spending and introduce ‘free schools’

Keep to the current schools budget and reform education by introducing ‘free schools’ that enable a wide range of groups to set up independent state funded schools.
Pros & Cons

PRO Free schools will bring new expertise and innovation into the education system that will drive up competition amongst schools and raise standards at low cost.

CON Many already existing schools are in need of repair or rebuilding and a lack of further investment in them will also have a negative impact on construction industry.
Invest in a school rebuilding programme

Invest in updating school buildings – many of which were built decades ago and are in need of improvements.
Pros & Cons

PRO Updating schools with the latest facilities will help create the best learning environment for students to develop modern skills. It will also be a boost to the construction industry.

CON School rebuilding can be wasteful, running significantly over time and budget. Investment may eventually be needed but it's costs not be affordable at present.

Submit your own policy

Do you have a better idea for a policy? Submit it in the text field below. (You still have to select one of the above choices). All ideas will be compiled with the most popular getting published in the Youth Budget 2012.

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Education: £67.8bn

Reform university funding

Cut free pre-school education

Maintain spending and introduce ‘free schools’

Invest in a school rebuilding programme

Submit your own policy

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