Scottish Government

SCOTTISH SECONDARY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION

RESPONSE TO REQUEST FOR COMMENTS ON THE STUDENT FEES (SPECIFICATION) (SCOTLAND) ORDER 2006

• Linking tuition fee levels in Scotland for all medical, degree and postgraduate initial teacher training courses to the highest possible variable tuition fee level likely to be charged in the rest of the UK, sets an unfortunate precedent in acknowledging that future UK fee movements will also dictate changes in Scotland. Inflation only rises in fees for students studying non-degree higher level courses (HND and HNCs) suggest that this would be an adequate fee level for all, if not for cross-border competition.

• The implication that there will still be a saving of £1300 for a student completing a four year Honours degree in Scotland, compared to a three year honours degree elsewhere in the UK, fails to factor in the significant living and accommodation costs of the additional year in Scotland (well above £1300) and the implications for the level of student loan / debt at the end of a four year course.

• Raising tuition fees to £1700 for new students undertaking postgraduate initial teacher training courses is a disincentive for graduates from outwith Scotland to train and possibly remain in Scotland at a time of significant teacher shortage, particularly in secondary schools. These fees would be payable from 2006 with a further negative impact on achieving future PGCE /PGDE quotas.

SCOTTISH SECONDARY TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION

14 West End Place

Edinburgh EH11 2ED

0131 313 7300

26 January 2006