Commenting on the publication of University and College Admissions Service statistics – showing an overall drop in the number of students applying to study in Wales and a 12.3 per cent fall in English applications – Shadow Minister for Education Angela Burns AM said:
“These figures cast a worrying shadow over the headline-grabbing, wafer-thin tuition fees policy.
“This is a half-baked scheme balanced precariously on the cross-border flow of students and today’s figures should act as another sobering wake-up call for the minister.
“This significant decline in English applications calls the Welsh Labour Government’s calculations into question, and if the trend continues, the costs will continue to rise every year.
“It is completely irresponsible that such a key policy – costing the taxpayer billions of pounds – continues to hang on a wing and a prayer.”
