Labour lets down Hodge Hill over University Education

9.10.43am GMT Fri 21st Jan 2005

Commenting on new figures from the Higher Education Funding Council showing university participation rates Nicola Davies said "I am appalled that only 13% of young people across Hodge Hill constituency are entering higher education. Hodge Hill Constituency is ranked joint 9th lowest in the country for University participation. These shocking figures can be laid directly at the door of the Labour Government."

Nicola further said "The Labour Government has introduced tuition fees, and now top up fees, these fees are unfair and put people off going to University where they know they will amass large debts and have to pay these off over the rest of their lives. These figures come soon after other figures showed truancy had increased across Hodge Hill. The Labour Government have let down children and parents across the country, the Liberal Democrats have called for the creation of early years centres and investment throughout the education system as well as the abolition of tuition fees."

The report was undertaken by The Higher Education Funding Council for England, its Chief Executive, Sir Howard Newby called for Universities and Government to reaching out to communities and schools much earlier, to persuade them a university education was something they could aspire to.