PGCE STUDENTS FACE £1500 FEE HIKE

2.00.55pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 20th Jan 2005

A major policy decision was forced into the open today after David Rendel MP asked a question of the Higher Education Minister in the House of Commons.

Mr Rendel asked about Government plans for tuition fees for Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) courses. The Minister replied that aspirant teachers on these courses will be expected to pay an extra £1500 a year in fees.

Commenting Mr Rendel said:

"This is an extraordinary policy. Not only will many people be put off the idea of going into teaching if they face top-up fees. We will also have the anomaly of PGCE students facing top-up fees while those on the Graduate Trainee Programme are exempt. This is deeply damaging and unfair.

"Teachers are not highly paid as compared to other graduates. But a good supply of well-qualified teachers must always be one of the country's top priorities. Putting students off by charging them top-up fees is just absurd."

ENDS

Note to editors: The Minister announced that PGCE students will be eligible for £2700 worth of fees - that is the full top-up fees of £3000 minus £300 which will be a compulsory bursary paid for all PGCE students. In addition, the Government will continue to cover £1200 (the pre-existing tuition fees), leaving the total extra sum payable of £1500.