Financial support for kids at uni??

al_yrpal

When I did my HND in Mechanical Engineering 45 years ago I got a Council grant. In those days the HND meant something (before it was dumbed down in the 1970's), it was the equivalent of a pass degree. My grant supported me totally.

These days many University courses that award degrees are the equivalent of lower order technical college courses that were studied part time and evenings long ago. The system is stupid, just a costly way of reducing the unemployment figures. If youngsters and their parents are daft enough to indebt themselves in pursuit of these 'mickey mouse' degrees that is there lookout.

Why don't we get our priorites right and totally fund bright youngsters on worthwhile degree courses and let the rest go back to part time and day release courses alongside real work. It would be better for them and better for the taxpayer.

To struggle a bit when young is good for the character. Getting oneself into huge debt for what often turns out to be a Mcjob is crazy nonsense

Al

millie

If I heard correctly it was anounced a few days ago that grants were being re-introduced for the less well off. What annoys me is that both my sons have left university in the last few years owing thousands of pounds in student loans. I was not in a postion to support then entirely as my OH had to finish work aged 51 with heart problems when my eldest son was ony 11, so I was the only one working. We gave them £30 a week to help them out, and often bought them groceries and books for the course at £30 - £40 each book. The grant was abolished the year before my oldest son started, now the grant is being re-introduced a year after the yougest one has finished. Surely if the new university entrants need financial support in the form of a grant, all the past students needed it too, so why should they have to be saddled with all this debt.

twhitehead

I retired from teaching at University some 16 years ago when everyone got grants and only borrowed for drinks money instead of having to pay tuition fees. I had lots of trouble getting students (some) do all the work allocated. I would like to know if they all work nowadays instead of just trying to avoid doing any work. Has paying for tuition made them turn up for lectures?
Just asking.

missile

I had a job when at university and two during the holidays.

Savvy_Sue

twhitehead wrote: »

I retired from teaching at University some 16 years ago when everyone got grants and only borrowed for drinks money instead of having to pay tuition fees. I had lots of trouble getting students (some) do all the work allocated. I would like to know if they all work nowadays instead of just trying to avoid doing any work. Has paying for tuition made them turn up for lectures?
Just asking.

I can't speak for the majority of students, but DS1 had a 100% record for attending lectures until part way through last year, and he thought he might maintain it because he was thinking of giving that module up so it wouldn't count.

He pays his own tuition, and doesn't work during term-time. Mind you he doesn't work much during holidays either! Good job he saved up before going, and doesn't splash his money around.

In the good old days of grants, when I was at Uni, I went to all my lectures except the compulsory ones in the first year. Managed the first one, but it was just TOOOOO awful! Not sure whether I wasn't missed or no-one really cared, but it was never commented on.