I feel like perhaps I should be blushing, because it is always difficult to admit you were wrong. It is even more difficult to admit your failure or mistakes when it is published on the internet. I am not happy with the Conservatives, and they are 'rolling back' all the wrong things!
In the past, university fee's was 100% subsidied by the government. That was the case, anyway, until Tony Blair broke his campaign promises in 1997 and introduced some fee's to be paid by the student, and the government would pay the rest for that individual. As it stands now, UK, EU, and EEA students pay 3,225 GBP yearly for their higher education. Most people support their studies through government student loans, which must be paid back once you begin earning over 15,000 GBP annually. Personally, I think this is fair enough. I think 3,225 pound can be saved for, and that it is a manageable amount to take in loans.
However, the Browne Report made the recommendation to overhaul the system and get rid of the tuition-fee cap, and allow students to pay their loans back once they earn 21,000 pound a year. Essentially, this is creating a similar business-style system like the Americans have. This is perhaps unsurprising, considering the author of the Browne Report is Lord Browne, former Chief Executive of BP. The coalition government, on the third of November, decided against lifting the cap but increased it to 9,000 pound a year instead and on December the ninth, the House of Commons voted 323-302 for the increased cap.
But what does all of this mean for the ordinary person?
This means poorer students, those coming from a traditional trade/working-class background, or students whom are already unsure about weather they are able to hack Uni for whatever reason will be further discouraged. Above all else, and perhaps most importantly, Britain is starting to abandon social democratic principles that I believe are very important. Adopting some free-market policies in certain instances is acceptable, if not encouraged, for the sake of progress and efficiency. However, I fail to see the progress in stifling access to education for British students. Furthermore, this could lead EU/EEA students (such as myself, especially those of us who don't take out student loans or are not eligible) to other countries where we do not have to pay as much, but have the same standard of education. If a government is not willing to pay for the training and education of their citizens; which in turn will lead to a more sophisticated economy and better the welfare of the state, and community, then that is a government that I will oppose. I think it is irresponsible, and unfair, for the Cons to make this decision when there was such a serious lack of public support, and barley a majority in the House of Commons. Once a decision like this is made, it is nearly impossible to undo it, which leads me to believe it is unfair to implement a policy such as this on future students and without disclosing it in the party manifesto.
As a result of my feelings, I went to a protest in London on Nov.10.2010 with some classmates organised by the NUS (natl union of students). This protest got a lot of international publicity because of the violent turn. I was at the centre of the violence and although it was exciting and all, i firmly disagree with the actions of the students. To storm a government building, provoke riot police, damage property and then even try to harm other protesters took the light away from the mission of the protest. But, I am pleased that a point was made, although it was not no avail.
"Education is not the answer to the question. Education is the means to the answer to all questions."
-- William Allin
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