Even Dearing will be a little despondent. After 14 months' work, his report will be remembered for ending free education, rather than heralding a new expansion of the HE sector. The National Union of Students (NUS) opposed college principals' suggestion of local fees and the national fees Dearing would bring: but the New Solutions Group around new President Duncan Trainer felt outright opposition was not the best tactic. He led the successful campaign for NUS to propose a graduate tax as a better option to save money. Now NUS has agreed to a pragmatic approach, it is badly placed to do a U-turn and argue for the retention of the maintenance grant. Whether Trainer really thought Blair would take his sacrifice of the graduate tax - or whether he proposed it in order that his posturing outrage at the maintenance grant abolition would make him look good to students - is a matter of conjecture.
Under Labour's plans, graduate debt is estimated to rise to £12,000. However, the number of graduate jobs has not increased in line with the number of graduates over recent years. Graduates are facing unemployment or taking jobs which don't require degrees - forcing down wages and increasing unemployment amongst non-graduates. The debate has focussed on the 18 year old school leavers who form just under half the student population. Mature students will be especially deterred by the cost of going to university, with less time to repay their debts, and the aim to increase the proportion of the population with graduate qualifications will be jeopardised. Student unions will have to put pressure on the NUS leadership to oppose tuition fees and support the grant. This issue should unite all students and provide an opportunity to fight for the principle of free education once again