The main points raised during the meeting included the following. ASC made a presentation to the Committee, a summary of which together with some additional information was tabled. Student finance needs to be more fair and coherent, should balance who pays with affordability issues and should open up wider opportunities for more people. Entitlement to support should be based on need, should last throughout the lifetime of those in education and should equalise the situation for those who are on income support or are in full-time education. It was suggested that a free two year period of post-compulsory education learning should be introduced.
Free education is a myth.
A free tuition and maintenance grant system is still a hoped for and favoured objective, and free education for all under 18s should still be a basic requirement. In lifelong learning the further education sector remains the lynchpin. The way that it overlaps with all other education providers is not a coincidence but part of its value. No-one under 18 pays for tuition fees and this is the basis of compulsory schooling and a requirement of all colleges to offer tuition to under 18s. The right to study of all in work must be recognised and balanced against the right to study of those who are not in work and who, arguably, have more need to study.