国际英语资讯:British PM backs cut in tuition fees as part of shake-up of post-18 education_时事

国际英语资讯:British PM backs cut in tuition fees as part of shake-up of post-18 education

LONDON, May 30 -- Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed Thursday a shake-up of student tuition fees in England that will see the cost of going to universities reduced more than 6,630 U.S. dollars over a three-year course.

An expert panel set up by May has published more than 50 recommendations after she ordered an independent review of post-18 education.

The prime minister commissioned the study specifically to ensure young people have more choice and can access the highest quality courses.

The review has also been designed to ensure students repay more of their debts built up during their study periods. Under the current system all outstanding student debts are cancelled 30 years after graduation, with projections showing that 83 percent of students will have some of their debt written off.

May wants to see the reintroduction of student maintenance grants to help support students from poorer families. The report says a minimum grant of around 3,800 U.S. dollars a year for the lowest income families would see debt for those students reduced by over 11,400 U.S. dollars.

The report says the removal of maintenance grants deters some less well-off young people from studying at universities, and recognizes strong concerns about the highest levels of debt being incurred by disadvantaged students following grants being abolished.

The report also concluded that too few graduates are meeting the full costs of their studies. It says they should start repaying their loans sooner and continue to make payments for a full 40 years after leaving university.