One of the most eye-catching decisions of the devolution era was scrapping university tuition fees.
Unlike in England, where graduates repay some of the costs of their learning, Scottish students pay nothing. But behind this bold policy lies an injustice that scars our society. More than half of school leavers do not go to Uni and get nowhere near the same support.
Training, apprenticeships and getting a job are equally valid choices – yet the lion’s share of the funding goes to higher education. This injustice is compounded by the fact that free tuition often benefits pupils from private schools or more prosperous backgrounds.
School leavers from deprived areas who are already at a disadvantage face a lack of financial support if they choose to work. Scottish Labour’s promise of a radical rethink on support for young people is both welcome and overdue.
Shaking up the careers service and developing closer links between schools and employers will unlock the potential of tens of thousands of young people. Backing colleges providing on-the-job training in the same way that universities are supported is another positive move.
Young people should have the same opportunities regardless of their choices when they leave school. Going to university has been portrayed as the gold standard, while everyone who does not have the grades is seen as competing for the silver medal.
That mindset has to change so that young people entering the world of work are rewarded rather than punished.
Taxing time ahead
The biggest increases in council tax for 20 years won’t be welcomed by anyone.
At a time when the cost of everyday food staples has doubled and energy bills are set to rise again, it’s another blow for households struggling to make ends meet. But most Scots only need to look at the condition of roads and pavements in their areas to know councils are strapped for cash.
The situation has not been helped by years of council tax freezes imposed by the SNP Government at Holyrood. And years of Tory-backed austerity saw a steep decline in cash for local services.
Council leaders repeatedly warned that the policy was only storing up trouble for later as town halls were forced to raid their reserves to keep the lights on. The result is the huge rises we’ve seen across some of the largest council areas yesterday.
Households have a right to feel peeved.
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