Government plans for part time students not good enough

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 4th Nov 2005

The Lib Dems would abolish university tuition fees, just like they have done in Scotland

Responding to the Government's announcement that means-tested fee support available to part time students will rise, Liberal Democrat Youth & Students Chair, Gez Smith said:

"We welcome the governments small steps to helping part-time students but this is just a tiny step towards eliminating the discrimination that part-time students suffer.

"The flexibility offered by studying part-time is vital to many people such as single parents and young people supporting a family who may not have followed the traditional route into university after school. Those who wish to study later in life are also let down due to the fees and other costs.

"A Government genuinely committed to providing access to lifelong learning would do more to support students including reconsidering its policies on funding higher education."

Gez concluded "LDYS will continue to campaign against tuition fees and for better grants for all students."