Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood and Sera Evans-Fear, the party’s candidate for the Rhondda at next year’s Assembly elections, have welcomed news that Welsh students will be protected from tuition fee hikes.
The Welsh Assembly Government today announced they will meet the cost of extra fees for students from Wales attending any UK university. This means Welsh students will pay no more than they would have done if fees were not being increased.
Students in England are set to be landed with tuition fees of £6,000 or £9,000 per year following the recommendations of the Browne Review into Higher Education.
Leanne Wood, AM for South Wales Central, said: “This is a real boost for Welsh students and a real boost for the future of this country.
“Access to a university education should be based on ability and not the size of your parents’ bank account.
“Furthermore, the amount of debt students will go into during the course of their degree will be limited as a result of this policy. Given the current financial crisis was built on debt, this is something that is to be welcomed.”
She added: “It is yet another clear example of the difference the Welsh Assembly Government can make.
“This underlines just how important the referendum on enhanced law-making powers this coming March is. By freeing ourselves us of Westminster meddling in areas that are already devolved, we will be able to create even more of a buffer between Government in Wales and the regressive Con/Dem coalition.”
Sera Evans-Fear, who works at the University of Glamorgan, said: “Plaid Cymru firmly believes in free education for all and we will continue to do what we can to pursue these aims.
“You cannot restrict access to Higher Education without suffering long-term consequences in many different areas, not least economic growth.
“Whereas the Con/Dems in London are seeking to put Higher Education out of reach of most working class people, the Government of Wales is determined to make sure it is open to everybody.”
