7th August 2019 1:00
By Blue Tutors
The UK’s new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, has more than just Brexit to worry about as he takes office. Reported on the BBC, one of his most pressing tasks is to address a perceived lack of funding in education, something Theresa May was accused of ignoring amidst her EU negotiations.
Johnson has promised to spend more on education. He has suggested that the commitment should be at least £5,000 per student annually, which would increase education funding by £50m. However, head teachers have long been campaigning for a much higher increase, and many people want a full reversal of the gradual decline in education funding over the last few years. This would mean an overall increase of £5bn.
Universities will see our new PM as an opportunity to increase their budget and improve the infrastructure of higher education. Mr Johnson placed a high value on our universities following the Brexit vote, and he is known to see foreign students as an export opportunity rather than taking places from those in the UK.
A big decision for education is now university tuition fees which looked set to be reduced to £7,500 per year, despite complaints that such a move would cripple many institutions. A report into the value of different degrees is still underway, but will Boris Johnson reverse Theresa May’s decision before a general election? It won’t win him many votes from prospective students.