Simon Hughes recruited to convince those from poorer backgrounds that university is still an option

Posted 29 Dec 2010

The government has appointed Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrat party, to help persuade people from poorer backgrounds that university is still an option for them.

Earlier this month, the coalition voted for an increase in tuition fees to as much as £9,000 a year, which will be imposed from 2012.

It is now Mr Hughes job to inform youngsters from poorer backgrounds about the ways in which they can afford to go to university.

He will be in the unpaid role for at least six months and part of his duties includes going into schools and canvassing the concerns of teenagers.

On accepting the post Mr Hughes said: "Parliament has settled the maximum university fee level in England from 2012 and we now have a critically-important task to ensure that every potential student has access to all the facts about the costs, benefits and opportunities of further and higher education."

However, some youngsters could still be put off by this hike in tuition fees and may want to consider an alternative such as a TEFL course.

Demand for TEFL courses in Ireland for example has already grown by 30 per cent over the past 12 months, reported the Irish Times.

By Abigail Parris

 

Category: Teaching and Learning