Lifelong loans slammed

The University and College Union (UCU) has criticised the government’s plans for a Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) – which gives adults access to tuition and maintenance loans for courses at levels 4 and 6, including higher technical qualifications.

Last month, the government published its response to a consultation on the LLE, which will offer loans to adults to study on technical and part-time courses, including modules of courses, in a similar way to those studying on traditional full-time degree courses. It confirmed that maintenance loans for living costs would also be available “for all eligible courses and modules that require in-person attendance”.

The UCU said: “Piling ever more debt onto students is a tax on education and aspiration. The Conservative government needs to stop funding education through regressive means and commit to reversing the damage done by more than a decade of chronic underfunding.”