Experts charged with transforming Scotland's economy have demanded a revolution in education with the introduction of a graduate repayment system.
A hard-hitting report by the Council of Economic Advisers, a group appointed by the SNP government to help plot Scotland's future wealth, stated some form of tuition charge is necessary if the country's universities were to flourish.
Students and their families, the report said, would have to share in "carrying the costs" of higher education in future years.
Amid scenes of violent protest in London this week, the Westminster government passed measures which will allow English universities to charge students up to £9,000 towards the cost of tuition.
The advisers, led by former Royal Bank of Scotland chief executive Sir George Mathewson, also called for radical changes in Scotland's schools, with closer monitoring of teacher performance and new procedures to remove failing teachers from the classroom.
Sir George said the past 20 years had "not been a time of great distinction" in schools.
The experts called for ministers to look at a system of "deferred payments" for higher education. Sir George refused to rule out a repayment scheme for fees as part of any package of reforms. Another key recommendation in the report, published yesterday, talked about a scheme to "measure teacher quality" and said that "ineffective teachers" must leave the profession.
The proposals, which also highlighted calls for increased tax and borrowing powers, were part of 18 recommendations to the Scottish Government from the council of advisers, in the group's third and final report ahead of next May's Holyrood elections.
Other recommendations highlighted the need for increased competition in the Scottish banking sector, using financial incentives to increase the pace of planning improvements, better banking services for small and businesses and for the Scottish and UK governments to work together on areas such as skills through job centres.
Sir George told The Scotsman that "all these things are possible" when looking at a shake-up in higher education funding, and said "it was difficult to see how the status quo can continue" without hitting other public services already affected by the spending squeeze.
The Director of Universities Scotland, Alastair Sim, welcomed the "recognition" by the advisers that "holding to the status quo in Scotland would put unsustainable financial pressures" on the university sector.
The report said the Scottish Government should give "fresh thought to involving university students and their families directly in carrying the costs of higher education, preferably through a system of deferred payments.
It went on to say that "the alternative is an era of extreme pressure on public resources, is likely to be unsustainable financial pressure on Scotland's world-class universities".
The report was published in the wake of the UK government's decision to back the Browne report, which called for the lifting of the cap on tuition fees.
Scottish Government ministers have yet to decide how higher education will be funded in the future, but have ruled out tuition fees.
Sir George refused to detail a preferred method of recouping money from graduates, but said "all things are possible". He added: "It's up to the government, but the feeling of the committee was that some of the weight would have to be taken off the government in the provision of university education."
Sir George went on to say that the committee made the recommendation for deferred payments as a matter of principle.
He said: "It's difficult to see how the status quo can continue without a shift from other areas, and given the difficult we're facing with cuts in services, that would, of course, be an issue."
Sir George went on to defend the recommendation that said "the quality of teaching must be measured", but that "ineffective teachers must leave the profession". He said there was "nothing controversial" about the proposal to get rid of bad teachers and said there was already a "school inspection system" in place to look at the performance of the teaching profession in Scotland.
However, the scheme was criticised by the leader of a Scottish teaching union, who claimed there should be better support for struggling teachers.
Scottish Secondary Teachers Association general secretary Ann Ballinger said: "There is a scheme already in place called the Standard for Full Recognition. There are also guidelines and a code of conduct in place.
"There are very few ineffective teachers, but where they do exist, they should be offered the chance to develop their skills before they are sacked.
"I would like to know when we are going to have a system in place to deal with ineffective politicians."
Meanwhile, Alastair Sim welcomed the report's focus on a shake-up in higher education funding, but warned Scotland should not "go down the English route" of charging higher fees.
He said: "We all have to face up to finding a solution to university funding in Scotland. Universities Scotland doesn't want to go down the English route and transfer the entire cost of degrees from government to graduates."
A Scottish student leader said tuition fees should be ruled out.
Jennifer Cadiz, NUS Scotland depute president, said: "Ahead of May's elections, parties must be honest and open with students. We must rule out fees, invest in education and improve financial help for the poorest students."
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government said most teachers were "doing a good job", and it was taking steps to improve standards in the profession.
A government spokeswoman said: "A comprehensive review of teacher education is currently being finalised by (former HMIE Senior Chief Inspector] Graham Donaldson. Mr Donaldson's report is due in January and expected to make a number of recommendations on improving the education of our teachers throughout their careers.
"The vast majority of Scottish teachers are doing a good job. A small minority are not up to the task and we are encouraging headteachers and local authorities to tackle this, as well as bringing forward new legislation to strengthen the role of the General Teaching Council ."
The Scottish Government also ruled out tuition fees, but said that other ideas on funding higher education were welcomed.
source:scotsman.com/martinfrost.ws
