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Red wall Tories called for a dramatic reduction in student numbers to stop taxpayers forking out billions to prop up \u201cmickey mouse\u201d degrees.<\/p>\n
Pupils with bad grades should be banned from taking out state-backed loans so the money can fund a huge expansion in apprenticeships instead, the New Conservatives group recommended.<\/p>\n
It said the expansion of higher education has led to \u201crip-off\u201d universities that are \u201cnotorious for pumping out graduates brainwashed\u201d by leftwing ideology.<\/p>\n
The report, written by MPs Jonathan Gullis, a former teacher, and Lia Nici, said: \u201cThere is a common misconception that young people have the right to attend university \u2013 but they do not have the right to study \u201cMickey Mouse\u201d courses at the taxpayer\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n
\u201cYoung people receive 14 years of publicly funded education \u2013 anything on top of this is a luxury, not a right.<\/p>\n
READ MORE <\/strong> Cost of attending university expected to rise by \u00a35,000 this academic year<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cThere are many benefits to be gained from education, but when it is the taxpayer footing the bill then education should be about helping people to enter the workforce and establish their careers, in turn contributing to the wider society.\u201c<\/p>\n Teenagers who fail maths and English or get three Es at A-level would not be funded by taxpayers under the recommendations.<\/p>\n It said student numbers would be cut by up to 15 percent, which would free up billions to create German-style vocational training. Student loans are granted without any minimum grade requirement.<\/p>\n The report warns that low achieving pupils tend to undertake poorer quality degrees that do not lead to graduate-level salaries and means loans are not repaid.<\/p>\n MPs called for a minimum \u00a345 a month repayment floor to be set for graduates who do not meet the current salary threshold, with an exemption for NHS workers.<\/p>\n The change would raise about \u00a31.8 billion a year.<\/p>\n At the end of March 2023, the value of outstanding loans reached \u00a3206 billion and is expected to reach around \u00a3460 billion by the mid-2040s.<\/p>\n Figures from 2018 show a stark difference between university funding and vocational training, with \u00a38 billion on 1.2 million undergraduates but only \u00a32.3 billion on 2.2 million Further Education students.<\/p>\n The New Conservatives, a group of 30 MPs from the 2017 and 2019 intakes, said universities are \u201ctaking advantage\u201d of the hopes and aspirations of students who will not benefit from the university system.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/4952793.jpg?r=1694375219610\")
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