Welsh Minister Says High University Costs Would Have Deterred Him

Welsh Minister Reflects on University Costs

A senior Welsh government minister has expressed that the current high cost of university education would have discouraged him from attending. Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, shared his views during the BBC Wales Your Voice live debate programme.

Skates, who was the first in his family to attend university, stated that if he were still in education today, he

wouldn't have gone

due to the expense involved.

Concerns Over Student Finance and Loan Repayment

This statement comes amid increasing concerns about student finance costs, particularly following the freezing of repayment thresholds for some student loans in England. Unlike England, Wales has chosen not to adopt this approach.

Skates emphasized that the Welsh government is

doing all we can to limit

student debt, highlighting their commitment to supporting students financially.

Context of the Debate Ahead of Senedd Election

The remarks were made during the first in a series of debates hosted by BBC Wales on Tuesday, ahead of the Senedd election scheduled for seven weeks later. The panel included representatives from Wales' six largest political parties.

During the debate, an audience member asked the panel what measures they planned to implement to assist young people in avoiding

racking up obscene amounts of debt

.

Challenges Faced by Young People Today

Skates acknowledged the difficulties faced by young people in the current educational and financial climate.

He said,

It's incredibly challenging for young people today. It's very different to the time when I went to university as the first person ever in the history of my family to go to university.

He further added,

I wouldn't have gone there had I been in education today, looking at whether I should go to university or take an apprenticeship because of the cost.