Pity Me: I’m A Student

It’s over, democracy has spoken. Tuition fees are set to rise and students will pay for their own privilege to go to university.

After weeks of deliberating, sit-ins, rioting and protesting the Government, which the nation elected has voted and passed the new higher education bill with a 21 vote majority.

Where many may feel this is the beginning of the end for the coalition Government, others feel that this is just the beginning, as they are taking successful steps towards closing the spending deficit, reducing the national debt and furthering “progressivity” (Vince Cable’s word). This was supported last week by the OBR updating their growth prediction for the year from 1.1% to 1.8% showing that confidence is coming back into the economy.

Once the dust settles from today I believe that when people understand the bill passed and the future that has been opened to us their moods will change. Did you know that the majority of university’s won’t be allowed to charge more than £6000 for their tuition at current standards? No? The feeling I get is that most students didn’t realise that as they haven’t done their homework on the bill they were peacefully protesting against (in balaclavas, by throwing fire extinguishers and kicking in windows).

Peaceful protesters helping move furniture in Millbank Tower

As a student would I work even harder if I was paying treble for my degree? Damn right I would! Maybe by introducing this ‘accountability’ into the system we will all work harder? Or choose our degrees more sensibly, or not binge drink as much, or do our work well in advance of deadlines (well that might be wishful thinking).

The bill just passed will mean that the bottom 25% (measured by family’s wealth) of the country will pay less for their university education than under the current system. Furthermore that the more successful graduates will pay back more interest on their loans than the less successful ones. Is that fair? If not, at least it’s ‘progressive’.

Now we can look forward to larger protests and disruptions as the Government tries to fix our broken economy by helping people become less state dependant.