GUERNSEY might cap the number of university students it supports. A consultation paper launched yesterday looks at all the options for funding and those include the suggestion of limiting the number supported to enter higher education each year.

‘If we get a majority who support this route, then we would have to consider it,’ said deputy minister Wendy Morgan, who chairs the Higher Education Working Party.

The paper had, she said, been prepared with help from other States departments, Policy Council’s strategic adviser and the States Treasurer.

Education will also send to a representative sample of 2,000 islanders the questionnaire on funding higher education from September 2009.

‘On previous occasions we have had no opportunity to consult on the issue so widely,’ Deputy Morgan said.

‘I think all those who receive the questionnaire will want to have their say as far as the future of higher-education funding is dealt with.

‘The questionnaire looks at all the details from how we implement a loans system to how long the payback time would be – it’s all in there.’

Copies have also been sent to all secondary schools, Grammar, the colleges and the College of Further Education and students who currently receive a higher-education grant.

‘We want the whole of the business community to respond.

‘We know the consultation in Jersey received a very poor response and we want to improve on that.’

Deputy Morgan said Education’s budget could no longer sustain the current system, especially given an expected hike in university fees.

‘I believe, and this in no way reflects the views of the department, that the outcome will call for a partnership between parents, government, students and the taxpayer,’ she said.

The department aims to take its report to the States for debate in June.

‘We have no idea as of yet what that will contain,’ said Deputy Morgan.

The higher-education budget last year was £6.5m. On the current basis, it could need to be £9.59m. by 2009.

‘The number of students and the cost of supporting them have increased dramatically in recent years and with no likely increase in the department’s higher-education budget, we will have to take an alternative approach to address the funding shortfall,’ she said.

All consultation documents must reach the Education Department by Monday 5 March. They also can be downloaded from www.education.gg.