NEWS RELEASE FROM THE LIBERTARIAN ALLIANCE
In Association with the Libertarian International
London, Monday 26th January 2004
Contact Details: Sean Gabb, 07956 472 199, sean@libertarian.co.uk
For other contact and link details, www.libertarian.co.uk/news/nr011.htm
"Top Up Fees: No Point Debating Answers to Wrong Question", Says Free Market and Civil Liberties Think Tank
The present arguments over top up fees for higher education is a waste of time, says Dr Sean Gabb, Director of Communications for the Libertarian Alliance. It is a debate over answers to the wrong question.
We should not be trying to find how to ensure than 50 per cent of young people go to university, but leaving to the market the whole question of whether graduates are needed at all.
If Mr Blair is right that a modern economy needs large numbers of graduates, young people can be expected to see the personal benefits of study. They will then arrange their own financing. The only role of government in this process is to ensure that no coercive barriers are placed in their way. Therefore, the 1988 Education Act and all other laws that restrict the number and rights of degree awarding bodies should be repealed.
At the same time, all state funding and regulation of higher education should be removed. Individuals should be free to make decisions for their own lives without subsidy and control.
Sean Gabb is available for media comment on 07956 472 199