EDUCATION’S proposals for the introduction of student loans leave too many questions unanswered, according to pupils at Blanchelande Girls’ College. All wanted more information on the department’s plans before giving a definitive answer.
‘They seem to have opened up a conversation and walked away from it,’ said Cat Nitch-Smith, 17.
She hopes to go to university next year to do sociology and culture studies or human resources.
Education is putting forward two alternatives to cover the £2.5m. shortfall in higher education funding that it will have from September 2009.
It believes the States should either find the money from elsewhere and let the current means-tested grants system continue or introduce student loans at £3,000 per year, repayable over 12 after graduation.
‘I would like to know how that £3,000 figure has been reached?’ said Miss Nitch-Smith.
Amy Osmond, 17, hopes to study human resources at university.
‘I’d like to know if people would have to pay interest on the loans and what would happen to students doing sandwich or part-time courses?’
She also wondered if the grant would include travel expenses.
‘What would happen to people who might be doing longer courses or those who were doing more expensive ones?’
Hannah Ellis, 17, wants to work within the media/photography sector and she has no plans to go to university.
‘If someone does want to do a longer and more expensive course, then I think they should get a greater loan,’ she said.
Sarah Gaunt, 17, has her sights set on a place at university studying conservation and ecology.
She said a student loans system could be less of a burden on parents.
‘I think it could be a good idea as everyone would be eligible for them and it wouldn’t discriminate,’ she said.
Miss Nitch-Smith thought loans could be a fair option because everyone would have the chance to go to university.
‘Everybody comes back from university with debts anyway,’ she said.
‘Ideally things would be tailored to suit the individual but that would be difficult to arrange and I don’t think you’ll ever get the perfect system.’
Article posted on 13th October, 2007 - 12.00am
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