Two points, firstly at any large demonstration or protest there will be a core group who go along just to cause trouble regardless of whether they have an interest in the cause, then the media will focus on this and it damages the cause.
I also think the students have a point, what is wrong with free education for those who deserve it, time was when a grant covered everything and beer was under a pound, all those over a certain age, including all those in government would have been eligible for free education if mummy and daddy hadn’t set them up with a trust fund. Starting out in life is hard enough, getting on the property ladder is nigh on impossible without help, being saddled with high debts makes it even harder. They say that those earning less will pay less per month, but over the long run they will end up paying more than those who pay it off quickly.
We have seen the cuts that the MOD have received, my wife is currently waiting to find out if she is going to be made redundant from the NHS due to these cuts and I am anticipating losing all my teaching hours at university due to the cuts. In an effort to make the 40% savings that are required over the next two years at this particular university, we already have third years teaching lessons to first years and it counting towards their final degree, bad practice and saving money. Teaching time has been cut and as a result grades have fallen so the solution is to make the course easier (something I’m really not happy about doing but the bills have to be paid). Class sizes are increasing, 25 computers in the room, 31 students on the register. Talk of more online learning i.e. stick the notes on the web and expect the students to read it and teach themselves.
And the students are now seen as consumers who have to be appeased at all costs.
On the flip side don’t forget who introduced the tuition fees in the first place.
Sign In
