| With much talk about reintroducing student grants in | | | | courses is a big reason why many are choosing to go |
| the UK, this article discusses the pros and cons of | | | | straight into employment from school or college. For |
| such an action. What does it mean for the taxpayer? | | | | those who do enroll at universities, the start to their |
| What does it mean for the student? Have your say... | | | | working life usually consists of a minimum debt of |
| Since student grants were abolished, there has | | | | £10,000. What kind of a start is that, we may |
| always been talk of them being reintroduced. There | | | | ask? |
| are those who feel there is a growing gap between | | | | Then there are those who do not want to see |
| the middle classes & the working classes in regard to | | | | student grants reintroduced. Many of these are |
| university education. Bringing back these grants would | | | | taxpayers who feel their hard-earned money |
| hopefully attract more students from working class | | | | shouldn't be going to fund students' bar-bills. Some |
| backgrounds. Unfortunately, at the moment, for | | | | feel that providing grants encourages those who |
| many the university fees are just unattainable, | | | | would otherwise have not enrolled, to enjoy 4 years |
| especially for those whose families have a history of | | | | of partying and heavy drinking, with little regard for |
| debt problems. Through no fault of their own, they | | | | the degree at the end. By forcing students to pay |
| are being denied a good education. | | | | out of their own pocket, they are bound to have |
| There is also an argument that these grants are the | | | | more motivation and dedication. |
| best way to tackle to growing gap between the | | | | Perhaps the answer lies in-between. The most |
| number of expanding places in universities and the | | | | intriguing solution I have heard is one where the grant |
| number of student applicants. Even for those who | | | | is based on the degree being obtained. Much more |
| can afford the fees, or at least get accepted for | | | | refinement is needed, but we can say for certain |
| student loans, the mounting debt at the end of their | | | | that the current set-up just isn't working. |