Half of UK universities are setting deficit budgets and most are making cuts. The right wing are smiling broadly – universities are seen as hot beds of wokeism and the left wing. Indeed Reforms Education spokesperson has touted a need for 50% of young people to learn a trade – do we need an extra half million plumbers, carpenters and electricians a year! Pressure is on to raise tuiton fees to eye watering levels; to cut the arts and social science courses. Apprenticeships are fine, but with UK manufacturing in further decline , due to Brexit, a diverse and intelligent workforce is needed more than ever.
On student loans – a higher rate of tax for big earners would be a fairer way of repayment (if this is morally acceptable – to me it is not). Why should we force our future high earners to pay upfront for their beneficial contribution to society? It seems totally in line with capitalism (sorry for swearing) to charge people for their larger earnings once they are earning them – at present the threshold for repayment is ridiculously low. Society needs doctors and engineers (not so sure about financiers – but heyho!). Most employers want skilled people in their workforces (and we need to remember that AI will replace many jobs in the next decade or so).
By 2022 student numbers from abroad had reached 760000 each contributing massively to the economy and standing of Britain in the world. Unfortunately with Labours Reform induced policies this has been massively cut. Most of these graduates and post-graduates would have eventually returned to their countries with positive views on the UK, those that stayed would be contributing massively to the economy and multi-culturalism that, in general, we can be proud of (knuckle drageers and flag shaggers excepted).
For the morons who bemoan the need for trigonometry or algebra – I would state that without these stimuli to their grey matter (and other factors like discussing the context and meaning of Shakespeares works, or the impact of colonialism on countries, or the impact of Islam in the 12th century or many, many others) we would be poorer. I would ask – how many people with degrees will vote for Reform knowing that they would privatise the NHS, cut wages and employment rights. Do email me if you are in this category!