New student fees (UK) unveiled.

[craig]

Link

IMO university should be free, much like the NHS maybe, but there you go :|

 

[Dedalus]

i don't think uni should be free, but then again i don't think it should cost an arm and a leg. there are some very intelligent people out there who deserve a university education but simply cannot afford it. on the other side of the coin there are some real mind jobs out there who's pockets are lined and just hop along to uni for the fun of it.

but we all know that uni is just a one big play pen to keep the youth locked up for a few years until they've matured enough to be let out into society. at least that's my view on it. i thought going to uni would be a revelation. it's not. it's like college, only there's a pub not 30 seconds walk from the lecture theater. :cheers:

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

The problem that is coming though.... They say they want to bring in more poor students, which is fine, if the students deserve it, but the universites have to fill a cerain amount of places with poor people otherwise they are seen as having a prejudice against them. Basically, they have to bring in poor people, even if they arent as bright as someone richer than them. Also, unis let in some idiots now. it used to be that the polytechnics were for stupid people, but they have just turned into unis and it drags the system standard down. I think the british education system needs a major revamp, not just a few "quick fixes" here and there to try and keep people happy. As far as these fees go, they are just crazy. You leave with a lot of debt. In the perfect world, you could repay it fine, but it doesnt take into account mortgages and other debt.

Another thing. You need a qualification for anything now. So everyone has to go to Uni, which is crazy because uni is really meant for the people of a higher intelligence. So basically, the system is flooded with people and simply cant be funded purly by the government. (A side note, although i dont know the governments budget, im sure they could give grants to students, but the money is being tied up in needless expenses)

 

[el Chi]

i don't think uni should be free, but then again i don't think it should cost an arm and a leg. there are some very intelligent people out there who deserve a university education but simply cannot afford it.

Which is, I assume, precisely why craig reckons it should be free. And for that reason I agree with him, although not completely. It's not so much a problem for me - I'm middle class and my parents can afford to help me through, whereas other people don't have that luxury (it's not something I take for granted).
Problem with this shceme is that "About 30% of students are expected to be eligible for the full £3,000 aid." I'd be VERY wary of that. Tony Blair "helped" lower poverty by simply lowering the official poverty line. What a f*cking genius.
University should cost far less than it does and far far more aid should be given to those who would like to go but cannot afford it. If you don't do that sort of thing or go to proper lengths to try and educate your nation then it won't progress and it might help unemployment - there are, I'm sure, more than a few jobs going spare but cannot be filled because there aren't the people with the right qualifications. On top of that, if you educate your nation further then they can play a more active role in democracy. People always complain (in the UK and the Us, at least) about election turn-outs being so bad, but if people were better educated then they might participate more (notice how I say "might"). If you don't encourage people to vote, then the will of the nation isn't heard properly and you'll see extremist parties' proportion of votes rising.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

The thing is, my parents earn anough to pay me through uni....at least thats what the government says. Just because im part of a white middle class family, doesnt automatically make it possible for me to go through uni without expenses. its so annoying, because my parents blatantly do not have 10K to spare, and if they did, they wouldn't just give it to me for my expenses.

 

[el Chi]

Well, that's partly what student loans are about - a grand a term and interest free pay-back when you're earning 10k/15k. Which is ok. But you're right that these measures are quite cut-and-dry: Let's say someone's family earn however much and are deemed eligable for these kinds of loans/grants/whatever, but someone's family who earns a grand or so more might be uneligible. That makes no sense. Silly people.

And Farrow, why've got a KKK member as your avatar?

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Because i felt like! How many PM's do i have to get...Honestly i dont see the problem. It was actually taken froma spoof thing, but because its so small, you cant see it. It was a joke about the "We Want You" I dont see the problem with it really. I mean, why cant i simply use the KKK and cast them aside once im finnished, they deserve no more...Also, Im not racist, its obvious im not a member.

 

[el Chi]

I know you're not a racist, and I saw the whole "I Want You!" parody, but still... Anyway, just asking.