The UK University System and Funding - A Guest Article by Jordan Millward

Note from the editor

Good Afternoon everyone, today we have an article from Jordan Millward.

Jordan is a current student at Harper Adams University studying Animal Behaviour and Welfare. He previously studied Animal Management at Reaseheath College and went to High School at Saint Thomas Mores Catholic College in Stoke on Trent.

He got involved with Stoke on Trent’s conservative party through his work in the rural community through charity work where he acts as the health and safety advisor with personal liaison between the staff and management.

He joined the conservative party at the beginning of the year, as he felt they had the most sustainable arguments to concerns he has for the nation and have the vision to build a better Great Britain for all of its inhabitants sustainably.

The UK University System and Funding - By Jordan Millward

With the left wing of politics targeting an increase in the tuition fees as well as discouraging the student loan repayment freeze. Now whilst the repayment freeze may be seen as an unpopular decision. Students and the taxpayers have to be aware that the money loaned to them is an investment not a gift. The change in repayments does not put any particular individual at a disadvantage it simply makes it so that students earning less also contribute back not just those on a higher salary. We are in a phase of Education Inequality unfortunately as students from Wales and Scotland are given their education at a cheaper rate then English Students. Which someone could argue is unfair to English students who may go into the same line of work as their Scottish or Welsh equivalents. To make the repayments fairer and increase education equity the goal should be to streamline an education policy that does not discriminate against other students that the left overlook frequently. Whilst the Scottish deficit under the SNP enters a Fifteen Billion Pound whole where education will surely face cuts the Tory party is making difficult decisions to make education affordable for all

 

A policy change by the Tory has allowed the education short fall to return into the hands of the public budget continuing to reduce the deficit. Whilst Labours tactic to attract young student voters is the same as what the Liberal Democrats attempted in 2010. The continued borrowing and free education is unsustainable as it affects the public budget far to greatly and would be largely an unpopular move for the middle age and older citizens of the UK. 

 

It must be understood that there is flaws with the education system which need addressing and some moves in terms of policy may be unwise. The Nursing bursary is in highly important for nursing students to live off as student nurses are doing a job and the bursary should be seen in a similar way to how apprentices are paid. If the plan goes ahead with the bursary cut then to cover the recruitment shortfall that the NHS will have to make up may have to consider paying the students for their time. The student would need this wage as the hours they are forced to work make part time work impossible and careful planning and talks need to happen with all agencies involved. This is also to make sure that the nurses do not feel discrimated against for they do such as this student nurse said “To take away the bursary will not only deter students, it is one of the most insulting things I have seen this government do since they came to office.”

The Tory party needs to ensure it works with the students so that it does not allow left wing of politics to attract irritated voters who feel discriminated against who will undo all the hard work with empty promises. There are areas in the university system that need addressing as wealthier students on average earn more, this is largely due to the fact that wealthier students are able to gain access to more prestigious university and unoffical networks. Whilst this is advantageous it is not the be all and end all what is a significant diservice to students is the wealth of courses that universities sell to students with little or no employment opportunity. This should be the main focus of university marketing which needs regulating and the students need to be aware that some degrees will not all lead to top grossing graduate salaries but at the same time the experience and opportunity can be invaluable. With proper regulation of the degrees employments rates can go up significantly as they have steadily done under the conservative government. 

 

A Government which invests in its youngest minds to better society whilst giving back to the people that have given them the opportunity this is only possible under conservative leadership.