What is wrong with Universities being supported from general taxation?

Well, this government  claims that those who benefit most should pay the most. University graduates get better jobs, and they as individuals should pay for this advantage. And, this government would probably add, universities  independent of government would be more efficient (like everything else).

So, why not make a charge for all secondary education then?  What's the point of it?  By this time everybody should be able to read and write, do practical sums, and know right from wrong.  Why not charge for further education, particularly if it leads to a qualification for a job?

Hold on.  Is the point of every sector of education that it delivers the individual a work place advantage that can be measured by financial reward? Why then pick on universities.

There is a suspicion that this government rather frowns on the fact that not only has the university sector been invaded by former polytechnics, but they are admitting hordes of students  to study dumbed down humanities and arts subjects which were previously the sole domain of the oldie universities.

Too many going to university and not taking up vocational training they would say.  Less university students is obviously one of the goals because all those students studying non-subjects must surely lead to more non-jobs, that is, doing things of which the Taxpayers Alliance disapproves.  

But, surely the government's  tuition fees policy is underwritten and justified solely by the notion that a university course is vocational training, or at least the gateway to a better paid job. Confusing?

Of course there would be no need to increase the fees if the government were not withdrawing 80% of teaching funding at the rate of £2.9bn each year by 2014.  Alright, so those oldie universities (they call themselves the Russell Group) are always complaining, but students paying up to £9000 per year will see not a single  improvement in facilities, teaching or infrastructure. Their contributions are filling the government's self made black-hole.

So what should happen?

Sadly it was a Labour government that introduced tuition fees and this has left them very little room to manoeuvre, so for Ed Miliband to support a move to a graduate tax an alternative to the tuition fees increase is probably his best option politically.   Remember Labour was also planning to cut university funding.

If you believe that attending a university is more that vocationalism, that well educated, imaginative, knowledgeable and forward looking young people are the future of the nation, then you must believe that it is no less a duty of society to support higher education through general taxation than it is to fund the armed forces and the police for our safety, or to fund the NHS for our good health.