Will education become socially exclusive

[Power Lunch Club]

In yesterday's BBC eduction section there was a report calling for students to pay more for their for their time at university.

"...University students in the UK should pay more for their loans and accept higher tuition fees as "inevitable", says a report from business leaders..."

At a time when students are already racking up huge debts during their time at uni...is there a real danger here that eduction will soon become socially exclusive i.e. for those who can afford it?

Here's the full article.

BBC NEWS | Education | Charge students more, say bosses

 

[Former Member 1]

One of the biggest problems I face as a lecturer is that the jobs most students have to do on top of their full-time studies often interfere with their coursework...

Between work, classes and the self-directed study they have to do many of my students are working an average of a 70 hour week... And this is particularly hard on mature students, who often have families and are trying to move away from the worlds of benefit dependency and minimum wage.

I don't know what cloud these particular 'business leaders' are on... They certainly don't represent any real business people that I know...

 

[johnthesearcher]

Gordon raises a very important question here and I'm certain that the replies from forum members will make more sense than the 'educated' political responses we get from our elected representatives, who seem to impose a 'negative equity' view on education.

I, (age not disclosed) for one was fortunate to have been provided with further education free of charge but it's true that times have changed dramatically for students today.

I believe that further education for those who have the interest and capability should be free and should not carry the 'burden of debt' imposed upon students who may (in the current economic climate) find it impossible to secure work in their field of expertise for many years to come.

It seems convenient for some to forget that the students of today will form the core of our future business leaders, opinion formers and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

One of my daughter's friends has completed a uni course in Environmental studies, passed everything with flying colours and now has approximately 10k + of debt and is a very good 'barmaid'.

Her main claim to fame to date is to have advised the bar owner on how to reduce his 'carbon footprint'.

All very well .....but slightly off topic

John

 

[Adventurelife]

It strikes me that the old view of education in order to get a better job/life etc has to change. We now have to look on higher education as a good thing for society as a whole as it will collectively raise the standard across the population and it is now less about the individual.

It will not anymore ensure a fast track to a better job or higher salary in the majority of cases. I employ highly educated people who should by the old rules be earning way more than I am paying. River guides with Phd's are not unusual which with my old way of thinking I find a bit bizarre but then life is changing.

On Saturday I spent all day at West Point which has just been scored has the best college in the USA by Forbes magazine You will see one of the big things in its favour is that students leave with no debt!

The issue of students having debt when they step out into the world of work is a major issue that needs to be addressed. I have talked to UK based students over the last year who have debt in the 10-40k level and that is just wrong for someone starting out in life.

For the fortunate few who are dynamic and bright enough this wired up world does offer many alternatives to the traditional education route, but for the majority life is going to be full of financial challenges straight from the off.

Peter