EPetition for preventing OU cuts/increasing fees

Pechow

Sorry if this is the wrong place! Usually I ignore things like these, but the OU just sent this direct to my email, and after reading, I signed the petition. If anyone else could that would be fantastic. The thought of tripled OU fees is a little worrying to say the least.

Petition: https://submissions.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22316

Stop the cuts in the Open University

Responsible department: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills


We the undersigned express our deep concern about the UK government’s policy of making damaging cuts in higher education funding which have led to massive increases in student fees, including a trebling of Open University fees. We fear that this will lead to a significant reduction in students and threaten jobs and that the lack of long term and secure funding for widening participation will make the Open University much less open. We therefore petition the UK government to reverse this policy; so that the Open University can reduce the fee levels it has set in England, in order to remain truly open.

ivyleaf

I signed it earlier today, though I doubt it'll do any good as the funding just won't be there to keep the fees down

DH and I are under the current financial scheme, so we daren't take a year out now or we'd then come under the new one :eek:

Pechow

It's worth a try though, if nothing else? Will see what happens.

I'm also in the middle of studies, and my course ends in 2013 (of COURSE it would be discontinued after I start!!) so I'd better finish it by then

melancholly

http://www8.open.ac.uk/study/explained/fees-2012

much as i hate the new system (where the access impact will be as great or greater in full time unis so it's not a specific OU problem), there will now be loans for part time students. it might be worth just fact checking those kinds of things and the impact that this will have.

Oldernotwiser

For many people who aren't on a really low income, the new system will actually make it easier for them to study than under the current scheme.

amiehall

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

For many people who aren't on a really low income, the new system will actually make it easier for them to study than under the current scheme.

Only if you don't already have a degree. No loan entitlement if you do and the new fees are many times more expensive than they have been.

Oldernotwiser

amiehall wrote: »

Only if you don't already have a degree. No loan entitlement if you do and the new fees are many times more expensive than they have been.

But much easier to manage for the average person who isn't a graduate and doesn't have a really low household income. There'll always be winners and losers when something changes.

pearl123

Signed. And thank you.

pearl123

Just bumping this - in the hope that a few more sign the petition ! It has 44,828 signatures at the moment. When you sign it you need to confirm you have done so by also hitting a link that goes to you email. Without that you signature will not count.
Thank you

pearl123

Below is the latest update regarding the epetition. It has now reached over 55.000.
Below is taken from the Ou Association magazine. Please sign or get friends to sign.

The loss of public funding in England is a substantial cut to the O U’s overall budget. There are likely to be major changes to the way the University delivers courses in future with the emphasis being on the overall qualification rather than individual modules. This may lead to a reduction in flexibility for some students and the withdrawal of modules. In particular the future of 10 and 15 point courses is somewhat uncertain.

In response to the cuts, the University and Colleges Union (U C U) which represents O U staff including Associate Lecturers (tutors) have launched a petition on the Westminster Government website. If the number of signatures reaches 100,000 this could trigger a debate in the House of Commons. If you are concerned about the future direction of your University please do sign this petition at
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/22316

We’re more than halfway there, so if you haven’t already done so - please sign the petition before you leave this page!

Don’t forget to ask your friends and family to sign it as well.

fishybusiness

I'll probably get shouted at here, but doesn't this mean OU finance is being brought more in line with traditional university fees? Is that a bad thing?

Students from lower socio economic backgrounds can still study, but they have to pay more in some circumstances?