'Education at risk as Labour back pedals on fees'

03 May 2023 , 18:22

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And while the loan is only repaid once the student starts earning above a certain amount, it is still a psychological barrier to many. In addition, getting a degree is no guarantee of getting the job you want (Image: Getty Images)

Next autumn, if he does as well as predicted in his A-level exams, my teenager should be off to university.

It’s something he’s always wanted to do. And as someone who went to uni myself, it’s an idea I’ve always supported.

But in recent times, and with the next phase of my son’s education looming, I’m now not so sure.

How valuable are degrees today when, as statistics show, there are record numbers of students in higher education and so many courses on offer?

It’s one thing if you want to go on to study say medicine, engineering or law. But if a young person wants to pursue creative subjects, is going to uni for three years and coming out with over £30,000 worth of debt the best way to do it?

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Aren’t they better off getting a foothold in the industry they want to get into and learning on the job?

People I speak to in the finance world increasingly tell me they would rather take a young person on at 18 and work with them to turn them into valued members of the company.

Many lament graduates who arrive clutching a graduation certificate but precious little practical experience or life skills.

In 2020, Labour promised to scrap tuition fees if they got into power. This week, like the Lib Dems before them, the party rowed back on its free tuition pledge blaming economic circumstances. Odd for a party that champions -education and social mobility.

The news will come as a disappointment to many who believe that everyone should have the same access to education no matter what background they are from.

And while the loan is only repaid once the student starts earning above a certain amount, it is still a psychological barrier to many. In addition, getting a degree is no guarantee of getting the job you want. Many graduates struggle to find work.

With the rise of apprenticeships and vocational training, there are increasingly different pathways to success.

What we really need, in an age of the rise in artificial intelligence, are education solutions that help future-proof our young people. Not just leave them small on hope but big on debt.

Eva Simpson