Clarke ready to debate 'top-up' university fees

The new Secretary of State for Education, Charles Clarke, said yesterday that he wants to launch a debate on plans to allow universities to introduce top-up fees for students.

He signalled his intention to consider the move as a growing number of Britain's top universities revealed they were debating plans for charging thousands of pounds on top of government tuition fees.

In his first public comments since taking over from Estelle Morris, Mr Clarke – a former president of the National Union of Students – said his initial feelings were "generally anti" on the question of top-up fees. But he added that it was "no use pretending all universities are the same". He said it was important to introduce "diversity" into the system and the question to be addressed was whether this was done through the introduction of fees. "If you ask me am I ruling it out, the answer is no," he added.

One of his first tasks in his new job will be to preside over the launch of a new blueprint for the future of higher education next month. In anticipation of the launch, several universities – notably Imperial College, London – have announced they are debating proposals for top-up fees. Imperial has signalled that the full cost of some courses is as high as £10,500 and that it could charge extras to students worth a further £4,500.

Mr Clarke said he felt the time had come for a proper debate on introducing top-up fees – but he wanted time to read into his new job before taking any decisions. Next month's blueprint, as revealed by The Independent, is set to announce plans to consult over tuition fees – which have been opposed by student leaders who claim they will make top universities the preserve of the middle classes.

Mr Clarke made it clear, however, that the top priority during his term of office would be primary and secondary schools. He said it was important to get the bedrocks of compulsory education right and that he was anxious to offer a broad and stimulating curriculum for youngsters. Another priority will be to rule on government plans to shake up education for 14 to 19-year-olds. A decision will be taken after the second stage of the independent inquiry into the A-level fiasco has completed its final report next month.

He said he looked forward to "frank discussions" with teachers' leaders – although he did not want to conduct this through "megaphone diplomacy". He said he felt the teaching unions conference season at Easter "didn't show the profession in a favourable light" although he added it was "up to them" to do something about it. He said he accepted Tony Blair's contention that we were living in a "post-comprehensive era". He said the system had been set up as an alternative in an era of "selection and grammar schools". It had achieved much but it was time to move on and build on achievements.

* The Association of Teachers and Lecturers announced it was planning to ballot its members in London on a one-day strike over cost-of-living allowances. The National Union of Teachers is already holding a strike ballot and has called for allowances to be improved by £3,000 to bring them into line with the Metropolitan Police.