QUICK DISCLAIMER: All views & OPINIONS expressed in Matt's Column are his own and the topics are that of his own choice. Comments are welcome below, however please make them relevant to the topic only.
I’m not a student anymore after leaving college with my qualifications and seemingly controversially deciding to not bother with University, my views have been highly publicised on further education in the past and I have to say my views haven’t changed.
I say “good for them!” to the students of which protested against tuition fee price rises this week! People seem to have forgotten about what fair protests actually are and what they can achieve. As long as there is no violence, no disturbances and just pure and simple protesting and students across the country letting their voices be heard then I pat them on the back!
Students are always given a hard time in the headlines, yet of course with idiotic people such as the likes of Charlie Gilmour who swung from the cenotaph in protests last year... is it any wonder? The fee increases are preposterous, unfeasible and quite frankly an outrage! Of course there are some clear fundamental charges which need to be put in place for students, yet £9000 for a course which in 99.9% of cases does not lead to a stable and guaranteed job is nothing other than laughable. Of course you may argue that the loan does not need to be paid back in full. Of course as soon as you leave university a bailiff shall not be knocking on the door of students demanding they pay the money immediately, as they only need to pay the money back in parts if in a job of which more than £22’000 per year is earned. Many exceptions also apply.
I do think that even though that is the case, £9000 for a course which is effectively a piece of paper after 3 years is just downright robbery. Back in the days of £3’000 per course, I can see reasoning. Of course increases in fees is down to the government not funding the universities as much directly, instead through students. Not all universities have increased their fees it has to be said, yet it seems somewhat transparently obvious that the rest shall not be too far behind. Is it a case that universities simply teach debt? Are you advising your children to go straight into work? But of course if the young upcoming members of community aspire to be a teacher or possibly a nurse then going to university is simply compulsory in order to have the appropriate certification. It seems either way students have it tough. The housing market is in crisis, no jobs and rising fees! Then of course, the media portrays all students to be nothing other than violent and confrontational. Is it any wonder why there is rising amounts of crime on the streets?
Police were in possession of rubber bullets at the riots, yet stated that they would only be used in “exceptional circumstances” but was it acceptable that they were even allowed to have them in the first place? It is a shame that the genuine youngsters of the country who should have a positive future ahead of them are being stopped in their tracks by many a brick wall after another. With all this being the state of affairs at the moment... it is worrying to think just what our future shall be like if nobody is given a decent opportunity without obstruction!
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