A16's rant on UK Politics

Given todays vote on screwing students, I figured I'd vent some steam

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[BiffaTW]

its easier to pay back though.

[A16AdamWalker]

@BiffaTW It's still much higher (unless you earn a low wage, which you could do without forking out 30-40k for the pleasure). I mean being easier to pay would be good either way (had the increase happened or not), but it's still a huge increase which many people who think ahead will not be able afford, Unless jobs go back about 20-30 years to when graduates usually earned 50-60k, compared to at the moment when they're lucky to earn 20k (based on RBS Gogarburn figures), it just ain't worth it

[BiffaTW]

@A16AdamWalker well then the whole system needs shaking up because its unsustainable even with the rise, but it links with so many other problems its difficult to discuss it as a single issue.

[A16AdamWalker]

@BiffaTW It sure does need shaking up, but the kind of shake up that's been forced through (I use that term as many Lib Dems didn't have a real choice (or so they claim)) isn't the answer, unless they adopt a similar to US system of scholar ships for academic excellence, and the government openly says they aim only for 15-20% of youth to go to university rather than 50% (basically reverting a few decades back)... I dunno what would be ideal, but I doubt going back to 1950 is the answer

[BiffaTW]

@A16AdamWalker If thats the case then it is wrong and they should adopt the US system of scholarships if theyre going down this root of higher fees. Also they could reform the vocational subjects so that you dont have to go to uni to do them and so they are open to more people. In other words seperate training people for work and people working for academia, ofc academics will always be prized by employers, but it make for a more effcient system.

[A16AdamWalker]

@BiffaTW I agree that if there is higher fees more training should be vocational, as especially areas of sociology, media, art, drama and areas connected to construction would be easier to learn vocationally, and may stop the waste of degrees (there are currently 1740 separate media related degrees in the UK, with 84 at Sunderland Uni alone)... but unless the job market is forced to change it's not likely to happen, as many of these areas demand a degree now for no reason

[BiffaTW]

@A16AdamWalker agree.

[A16AdamWalker]

@RobinScott93 Let me put it this way, when you're 40 (as a lot of students I know do plan 20 years in advance). Do you want, on top of a Mortgage, Household Bills, Children and a family to still be paying off University? Unless you're earning over £30,000 and live in a relatively cheap area you will struggle. Thats why people, the nus and 51 Universities who claim the vote may force closure say they can't afford University, they're thinking what else they have to do down the line

[RobinScott93]

@A16AdamWalker I think it greatly depends on what job you leave with when you go to university. I suppose, yes, if you leave university with a low-paid job, you are going to be stuck with fee repayments for a long time, but if you get a higher-paid job you can pay it off more quickly (with the downside that you have to pay more). I understand the argument but it doesn't make sense to say "now I won't be able to afford to go to university". It's just that the debt will take longer to pay off.

[A16AdamWalker]

@RobinScott93 While I do not think the Tories intentionally try to hurt people, the sad reality is, like Labour's policies tend to leave us with huge debts, The Conservatives since the 70s tend to leave millions unemployed and few people better off, hence why Trade unionists were at the demo's. Anyway as I said, more people would rather pay more off but only have to pay 23,000 than less but for longer to reach 40,000, as it will really bite well into their 30's and 40's