30th January 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Talks are underway between senior government ministers as to whether the student opportunity fund will be maintained. The fund, currently £327m, is in place to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds in completing their university studies. Members of the coalition are to decide how far to cut the fund, with the Treasury advocating substantial cuts in the fund used to help poorer students at university. Opinions over how to manage the fund are said to be divided, with some calling for the fund to be removed all together, whilst others are campaigning to preserve it.
Higher education minister David Willetts and Business secretary Vince Cable have voiced concerns regarding the plan to cut the fund, and have said that it needs to be maintained in order to help social mobility in universities. The issue is particularly urgent given that the government is due to set out its plans for funding the higher education sector. It is said that ministers are lobbying behind the scenes in order to gain support for either keeping or cutting the fund. Those opposed to maintaining the fund have argued that higher education is not taking its ‘fair share’ of the cuts implemented by the government.
The student opportunity fund is allocated to universities for the purposes of recruiting those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and providing them with support while they study. The drop-out rate amongst students from disadvantaged backgrounds is much higher, as they are often unable to bear the hidden costs of education. The fund allows universities to provide scholarships and grants to students in need, in order to help them complete their studies. Any cuts made would come after cuts of over £100m that have already been cut from the national scholarship programme. Critics observing the debate over the fund have observed that the government appears unable to make good on their promise of expanding participation in higher education.