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Investing in students is investing in the future



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Published Date: 07 July 2008
It's time for the SNP to deliver on its promises, says Adam Ramsay.
THE average Edinburgh student graduates with £12,000 of debt. The maximum level of student support for the poorest students is around £4500. NUS Scotland calculate that an average student needs £7000 a year to get by. Thousands of students live in po
verty.

Our society faces massive challenges, from climate change to global poverty. We also have massive opportunities – new technology and broken social barriers. To face these challenges, we need to be an educated society.

If we are to be an educated society, we must ensure that the next generation wants to be educated. If we are to be an equal society, we must ensure that everyone can afford a degree. Currently we are failing.

Young people are put off studying because of fear of debt. In particular, those from poorer backgrounds feel they simply cannot afford to study.

I do not expect students to live in luxury. But asking anyone to live off £4500 a year (much of which is a loan) is unreasonable. With rents as they are, this simply isn't enough to live off.

I know students who have to choose between heating their flat and taking out a loan.

The SNP promised to end student poverty and debt. They promised to scrap the graduate endowment, replace student loans with grants, and to cancel the current debt owed to the student loans company. They won votes because of these policies. So far, they have only delivered the easiest of these – scrapping graduate endowment.

The students' association will do its bit. We are currently looking to get cheap vegetables for our students from local farms, and ensure bills are kept down through insulation. But we will be holding the SNP to their word. If they go back on it, students will not forget.

This will cost. Education is expensive. Student support is expensive.

Today's students will generate tomorrow's wealth. Education is one of the best investments we can make in the society of the future.

• Adam Ramsay is president of Edinburgh University Students' Association





The full article contains 359 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 07 July 2008 9:58 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
 
1

Epicuras,

07/07/2008 13:51:59
Well said Adam - being an ex-student with a moutain of debt still to pay off I voted for the SNP based on their promises; not just about student debt but also about making Scotland a fairer society - after a year in office, they'll never get my vote again.
2

Linda,

Edinburgh 07/07/2008 16:59:53
Students much better off under SNP.
Abolished Graduate Endowment worth £2300 per annum.
This was opposed by Labour and Tory MSPs.
While Labour then doubles starting tax rate for poorest students.
Scotland is much fairer under SNP.
3

Papa? Nicole! Papa?,

07/07/2008 23:31:13
Funny how all this was said about Labour, who were said to be the protectors of the grant... Students will remember? That's all very well and good, but it did no good in the last few elections.

I wonder how the SNP will reneg on their word, and what the students will (not) do about it. Again.
4

The Answer,

Glasgow 08/07/2008 01:31:57
First degree awards per parlimentary seat 2006-2007 by domicile, at institutions throughout the UK.

574 First degree's per N Ireland MP's seat
432 First degree's per English MP's seat
417 First degree's per Scottish MP's seat
337 First degree's per Welsh MP's seat
5

Banjo Face,

Glasgow 08/07/2008 11:34:18
Which means what exactly? Not much unless you know the average population by constituency in each of the four areas. If NI has a relatively low number of MPs compared to its population then it will probably rank fairly highly in any 'instance by constituency' table. Doesn't actually explain participation and achievement in higher education in percentage terms across the four nations.

Not so much 'The Answer' then...
6

Scots Man,

12/07/2008 11:27:01
To Linda (no. 2)

The Scrapping of the Graduate Endowment is indeed a good step. Adam is simply willing the SNP to live up to their manifesto

To no. 1 - The SNP has only been in government for a year, so won't have done all its manifesto yet - the question is - is there a timetable for these reforms?

To no. 1, 2 and 3 - there is a party in the Scottish parliament staunchly committed to Grants, and no fees - the Greens. Perhaps once students have been let down by Labour and the Tories, and may be let down by SNP (let's wait and see), students will migrate to the Greens.
7

Papa? Nicole! Papa?,

26/07/2008 14:55:16
#6 But nobody takes the Greens seriously - they may have wonderful policies on student funding, however, their luddism shines through in their other policies.

 

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