Jobs & Money
November 22 2004
Page 17
grjobsandmoney@cf.ac.uk
Student Funding: Misallocation? By Tom Scobie Jobs and Money Editor STUDENTS INCREASINGLY have to shoulder the cost of their time at university, often amassing huge student debt. These large increases have been blamed on government planning regarding financial support in higher education. The old system of means-tested grants was replaced in the late 1990s by loans repayable on an income-contingent basis once employed. Currently, the national student loan debt stands at £14billion, an increase of 18.7 percent on last year. The total student debt including debit and credit cards and bank loans is much higher. A report from HeriotWatt University stated that “expenditure on higher education is enormously skewed towards the middle class and Tax-payer’s money is used on getting these relatively well off people into the privileged position of university.” Those not in university do not always receive the generous support which students do, merely because their chosen path is vocational rather than academic. Students within the university system are similarly treated with inequality. The report also found that financial support from parents is not weighted heavily enough when assessing people’s entitlement to student loans. Some students received sums as high as £1000 per month from parents, yet still had entitlements to receive nonmeans tested loans and grants. This superfluous capital is often abused; many students have been known to take out the low-interest student loan and place it into a high-interest savings account, exploiting the difference in interest rates to earn themselves even more money.
As the maximum means-tested loan available to poorer students is clearly too low to live on, resulting in aid from parents or paid employment, arguably it would be better to appropriate some of the misused funds back to help those less well-off. When David Blunkett was Secretary of State for Education, one of his main reasons for abolishing grant funding was that it subsidised those benefiting from higher education at the expense of those denied access. The current climate suggests that it is those from less privileged backgrounds which will be deterred the most from entering university, due to the obligatory debt that will be incurred. The government is attempting to widen access to university, yet this won’t happen until the burden of debt is relieved from those who condemned to study under financial worry. It is unfair that poorer students have to endure paid employment to supplement their income, while those better off can devote more time to their studies. There is clearly an inadequate system in place for the appropriation of funding; affluent students receive unnecessary loans, while the poor remain under-supported and over-burdened. The Government’s bursaries scheme for poor students goes some way, but the university funding system should have a rigorous procedure of allocation, to make sure funds go to those who need them the most. The transition from public-sector assistance to that of individual funding is far from a satisfactory conclusion, meaning it will take some time before university really is a choice for all.
RICH/POOR: The divide is getting bigger
If you wish to comment on or contribute to the Jobs and Money section of gair rhydd, either by writing or creating ideas for stories contact us at:
grjobsandmoney@cf.ac.uk or come to the fourth floor of the Students’ Union.
For full details of these jobs and many others, plus information on our agency vacancies please come and see us at Unistaff Jobshop, Ground Floor, Cardiff University Students Union. Swydd/Job:
Telephone Interviewer
Swydd/Job:
Ardal/Area: Tal/Wage: Oriau/Hours: Parhad/Duration: Manylion/Details:
Cardiff £5.15/hr Evening and Saturday shifts Ongoing An independent research and marketing company require telephone interviewers with excellent telephone manner, excellent written and spoken English to conduct interviews over the phone with the General Public * No Selling involved.
Ardal/Area: Tal/Wage: Oriau/Hours:
Rhif Cyf/Ref No:
006
Rhif Cyf/Ref No:
013
Swydd/Job:
Bar and food service staff
Swydd/Job:
Mailroom Assistant
Ardal/Area: Tal/Wage: Oriau/Hours: Parhad/Duration: Manylion/Details:
Cardiff £4.85 per hour 1 wknd shift + 2 or 3 week evenings Ongoing Bar in Cardiff Bay is looking for bar and food service staff, you must be presentable, numerate, personable, honest and reliable.
Ardal/Area: Tal/Wage: Oriau/Hours: Parhad/Duration: Manylion/Details:
Cardiff £4.85 per hour Various shifts Ongoing Market research, database management and mailing house requires mailroom assistants for various packing and lifting of brochures, bags etc. You must be reliable, dextrous, honest and hard working.
009
Rhif Cyf/Ref No:
010
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Hosts and hostesses
Cardiff £5.50 plus Varied, including evenings and wknds Parhad/Duration: Ongoing Manylion/Details: Major events stadium are seeking hosts and hostesses to work with blue chip clients on event days. You will be looking after our guests, assisting them with their general enquiries and ensuring the smooth running of the corporate hospitality areas.
In Unistaff Jobshop we run two services, an agency (Unistaff), for one-off jobs within the University and some external companies, and a jobcentre-style service (Jobshop), for on-going part time work with external companies. Both services are free once you have registered with us.To register please bring your student card, and National Insurance card (UK students) or Passport (Non-UK students). We are open from 10-4, Monday to Friday.
Car Owner Drivers Required
Car Owner Drivers Required for local deliveries in Cardiff ■ Earn up to £9.00 per hour ■ Flexible working hours ■ And Free Pizza! Call Andrew on 07973 571141 for more information.