UK: Middle-classes should pay more: Oxford's Patten

Middle-class students should be prepared to pay higher university tuition fees, according to the chancellor of Oxford, writes Graeme Paton of The Telegraph. Lord Patten said they could have no objection to paying more than the £3,000-a-year currently levied by most universities and that it was a "mad world" in which affluent parents were prepared to pay thousands to send children to private school but not get them through higher education.

Lord Patten, former governor of Hong Kong, said government had to raise the "intolerable" existing cap on fees - in place since 2006 - to allow universities to compete with those in the United States. The comments will increase pressure on the Government to increase fees when it reviews existing levels next year. The National Union of Students recently warned that graduates face average debts of £37,000 if fees rise significantly.

In a speech to the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference, which represents 250 top independent schools, Lord Patten also attacked government reforms designed to increase the number of working-class students in higher education, The Telegraph writes. He said there was "no chance whatsoever" of Oxford hitting a target of 62% of state school students by 2010. This follows similar comments by Professor Alison Richard, vice-chancellor of Cambridge.
Full report on The Telegraph site