THE students who launched a campaign against loans have praised the Education Department’s demand for money from Treasury and Resources. But they remain sceptical as to whether it will succeed.
John Angliss, 18, one of the students responsible for collecting 2,754 signatures opposing the proposed loans scheme, said he was pleased with Education’s new proposal but believed it could do more with the money it had.
‘I don’t know if it will be that easy. I think it will go through the States and there is a chance that they might still decide to bring the loan system in.
‘A couple of people have said to me that Education can afford it, other people have said that Education should have been more forceful before, but the fact that they are reconsidering loans is a really good thing for students,’ he said.
Mr Angliss added that he was upset that Deputy Wendy Morgan, the deputy Education minister and chairman of the higher education working party, had claimed that information the students had given to the public was incorrect.
‘I think the one piece of information that we had to amend was the 0% interest on loans for the duration of the course in the UK which is actually 2.4%,’ he said.
‘But all other figures were from the letter sent to parents by Education informing them of the possible introduction of the loans scheme.
‘It’s disappointing that they’re not providing people with their own figures and sad that people are not being given information,’ he said.
Michelle Dumont, who is attending Cambridge to study philosophy from next week, was another of the students behind the petition. She said she was delighted with Education’s new stance.
‘I’m glad they have responded to the public about their decision and I hope Treasury and Resources can now find the funds to allow them to keep the grant system,’ she said.
‘I think the petition did make an impact - it was good to give the public a voice because there are a lot of people who feel strongly about it.
‘I think a lot of people will hope that Education will push Treasury and Resources to give them the money. That’s their job - they should be standing up for education in the island. I think there are some areas where they could spend more money but I think they could give more without cutting something vital,’ she said.
Sarah Batiste, who is now enjoying her first week as a student at Bath University, said she thinks that Treasury and Resources will see the benefit of supporting the existing grants for future prospects for the island.
‘It’s fantastic news especially with there not being so many people coming through the education system in years to come. They have to cater for a bulge of students coming through at the moment but not in the future. I think they will get extra funding because us having degrees will benefit the island in the future,’ she said.
Article posted on 30th September, 2006 - 12.00am
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