Loaded Students (779 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 0.62 on 11 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Iago (View user info) at 2004-11-07 15:01:54 EST
Its an old cliché for parents, grandparents and hippies to go on and on about how things 'were so much better in the old days' but in the case of being a student, unfortunately they'd be right. There was once a time when students were entitled to grants, benefits, dole in summer, and even a small allowance for class B drugs. All of that has since long gone and been replaced, as you know, with loans, overdrafts and crippling debt.
To give you an idea as to the contempt both Tory and Labour governments share for higher education, this is a brief history of endless cutbacks and withdrawals of funding that has taken place over the last 20 years.
1984
Student Travel Costs Reimbursement abolished.
1985
Minimum Maintenance Grant abolished, leaving a 'fees only' minimum award.
1986
Special Equipment Grant abolished.
September 1986
Student's entitlement to Supplementary Benefit and Unemployment Benefit during holidays withdrawn.
October 1987
Housing Benefit for accommodation left unoccupied during summer vacation withdrawn.
November 1989
Government introduces Education Bill.
(Student Loans)
September 1990
All forms of Housing Benefit, Income Support and Housing Benefit for full-time students are withdrawn.
November 1990
Government abolishes Vacation Hardship Allowance.
November 1993
Grants to be cut progressively by 10% each year over three years from 1994/95 to 1996/97 and loan increased.
November 1994
Grants to be cut by another 8% and student loans to be increased correspondingly.
Students who take breaks from their studies are no longer entitles to claim benefits.
November 1995
Basic rate of grant cut by an average of 10%.
Student loan amount increased further.
May 1997
Labour party replace the conservatives and promise to 'make things better for students.'
July 1997 (TWO months later)
Government announces plans to charge students for tuition fees.
September 2000
Tuition fees set at £1075
September 2004
Labour announces plans to charge students £10,000 A YEAR tuition fees.
If, as Adrian Mole put it, the government is aiming to produce, 'weak-willed, unhealthy, ignorant,' uniformed masses who don't think for themselves. They have done a spectacular job thus far.
User Reviews
Submitted by The_Cyst_Master (user info) at 2006-03-10 13:14:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
WINNER! http://www.ubersite.com/m/84913
Submitted by Stabkill (user info) at 2004-11-28 05:15:01 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
Lying sack of shit stealing material bastard.
Submitted by SwissCamel (user info) at 2004-11-08 17:18:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I know. Getting raped a bit more every year.
Submitted by IamNotTheWorldTradeCenter (user info) at 2004-11-08 17:08:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
All you need to do now is privitize the BBC and deregulate all forms of media and you'll be just like us(US)! YAY for a brainwashed electorate!
It's great, the news is so dumbed down that it's not worth watching, and besides the state of things is so depressing that you don't want to pay attention. So there's more time for celebrating these fleeting moments before the appocalypse.
P.S. Boddington's Pub Ale. All Day, Everyday. Anyone from Strangeways? Get me a Boddington's hoodie or sumtin and I'll give you way too much money for it.
Submitted by Ranx05 (user info) at 2004-11-08 16:56:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, at least it's still not as expensive as getting an education in the States...
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2004-11-07 16:30:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Filthy is so right. You can't get a good chippy, sparky or plumber for love nor money.
I dropped out of uni, so I'm paying back 2 years worth of loan without the benefit of the degree to up my pay.
They keep asking me if I want to be an officer in the REME, but I keep turning them down to be a squaddy in the Corps of Army Music. Am I doing something wrong here?!
Submitted by mikethescottish (user info) at 2004-11-07 16:17:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Ain't that the truth. My daddy always said I shoulda been a plumber.
Submitted by Iago (user info) at 2004-11-07 16:07:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Leave school at 16 and learn a trade? Like prostitution? Univerity students ultimatly earn more than E14 Social's.
As for the army, im joining up anyway. Main RCB is on january 11, then Sandhurst, then 2nd Lieutenant.
Submitted by Feijuada (user info) at 2004-11-07 15:55:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Well, there's always the army...
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2004-11-07 15:39:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Smart money these days says leave school at 16 and learn a trade. You pick up invaluable experience and aren't saddled with a debt that will take you the next 12 years to pay off.
Submitted by Stin (user info) at 2004-11-07 15:25:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And they want to put 85% of 18 year olds through higher ed.
What the fuck are they playing at?
Vote Stin - next Tory Secretary of State for Education. Mandate to follow!