Angela Rayner MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary,
commenting on UCAS figures for UK higher education applications, said:
“These figures show the worrying impact of a Conservative
Government happy to burden young people with over £50,000 of debt just for
getting an education.
“From tuition fees rising with no end in sight, to maintenance
grants being scrapped, and extortionate interest rates on student debt, this
Government’s policies have slammed the door on the aspirations of people across
Britain, and now we are beginning to see the impact that will have on
university applications.
“The decline in nursing applications is utterly shocking, and
shows the results of the Government’s regressive and short-sighted decision to
scrap nurses’ bursaries at a time when our NHS will desperately need more
staff.
“If the Tories want to see more young people go on to university
they would bring back maintenance grants, tackle high interest rates on student
debt, and end their plans to see tuition fees rise each and every year.”
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