The 100 per cent rises have raised fears that people will be put off returning to the classroom.In 2002, for example, the cost of the 32-week AS psychology course was £177.
However, this year the same course, which this time comprises only 30 weeks, will cost £361.
Last year, a 30-week Spanish GCSE course cost £138 and this year it costs £271.
The 100 per cent hikes affect the so-called exam course only.The principal of Highlands, Ed Sallis, blamed the price rises on the States’ user-pays scheme, which has meant subsidies were withdrawn from courses which offered a gateway back into education.
However, he insisted that the courses remained ‘excellent value for money’.Senator Stuart Syvret, who warned the States against the dangers of introducing new user-pays schemes unchecked in a debate three weeks ago, said he feared the charges were an example of ‘false economy’.’It certainly seems a great deal of money,’ he said, ‘especially when you would imagine they would be trying to encourage people back into education.’
