A radical shake-up of further and higher education could see the numbers of students going to university drop dramatically.

The new business secretary Vince Cable has ordered the changes amid claims that the expansion of undergraduate places has compromised the quality of teaching in higher education establishments.

University spending has already been hit hard by the new government.

A source close to Cable said: “There needs to be a big national debate between excellence and quality on the one hand and bums on seats on the other hand. Packing more and more students in is not necessarily good value for money.”

More money will be put into vocational training and further education in order to increase its popularity amongst students.

Cable’s plans directly oppose the previous government’s higher education targets.

Aaron Porter, President-elect of the National Union of Students opposes the new government plans.

He said: “Cable’s plans would jeopardise the fragile economic recovery and place us at risk of returning to a higher education system accessible only to a liberal elite.”

Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union agreed that a debate on the future of universities was necessary but that cutting university places was not the answer.

“Vince Cable gave a very moving speech about how education transformed his mother’s life, and I cannot see how denying thousands the chance to fulfil their potential at university and increasing the strain on the benefits system would be in this country’s interest,” she said.

By Hannah Breeze

Deputy News Editor

Photo courtesy of say_cheddar