NUS also warned that the newly created additional places must be fully funded as part of the newly announced £270 million university modernisation fund and that the full costs of student loans and grants must be met by the Government if the scheme is to be both fair and sustainable to students and their families.
Wes Streeting, NUS President said:
“With record demand for places at a time of looming cuts, we welcome this urgent announcement to fund additional student places. The creation of additional student numbers for science, technology and maths will help to ensure that many students with the ability and aspiration to benefit from higher education will not be left out in the cold this autumn.
"It is vital however that these additional student places are fully funded and that those who are offered them receive full loan and grant entitlements. We await the full costings of these proposals and will scrutinise them carefully to ensure promises are kept and that the money is provided to deliver additional plalces."
NUS also praised the extension of the guarantee to 16 and 17 year old of work, education and training, along with the guarantee of education or training to young people who have been unemployed for six months or more.
Wes Streeting added:
“In the context of high youth unemployment and a dire labour market situation for young people, it is welcome that the Government have recognised the need to invest in education and training now rather than suffer the economic, social and personal costs of long-term unemployment."
"Those young people who are struggling in the context of dire employment prospects must not be allowed to rot on the dole queue, and it is welcome that they will continue to be guaranteed access to education and training.”