"George Booth" wrote in message
...
On 22/02/2016 09:13, Graham Easterling wrote:
SNIP
The number that go to University now is so large that local
councils cannot afford the fees and grants, unlike in my day. But it
all seems a bit pointless and leaves a distinct impression of being a
way of keeping young people away from unemployment, as least
temporarily.

Tudor Hughes

I think this is the most important point. Back when I took my degree
(1970-73) it was still a very small number (relative to today) that did.
However, it meant you got a grant, not a loan. It was all essentially
free. It meant you had no financial worries about going, you could go
from any background. At that time my parents had little money and we
lived on a Council Estate, in the far west of Cornwall. It didn't matter,
if you wanted to go you could, and I ended up in NW London sharing with 2
lads from Barnsley.

Now, the policy of 'everyone who wants too should go & Britain will be
great again' has made the whole thing unaffordable. So we have a system
which works against people from a poorer background. In addition, many go
to the nearest university so they can remain at home and saved money.

Getting away from home was too me the greatest experience. (Actually I
left home before finishing my 'A' levels, but that's a different story.

Graham
Penzance


Back in the late 1960's (in England) the grant was means tested related to
parental income-thanks Dad
In the 1970's my employer paid for me to do a second degree-thankyou to
the London Borough of Redbridge

The increase in access to Higher Education is an interesting debate and,
on the whole, I think it is a good thing.


I joined the MetO in 1970 straight from skool with A-levels. Easy peasy
interview at Manchester Weather Centre. Wanted to be a forecaster but was
told that one had to 21 years old to do that. I said, no problem and became
an assistant doing obs and plotting charts and making tea. I loved it. But
then the qualifications were raised to an HNC or higher in 1971. I was
subsequently advised to go to Uni. So off I went and did maths (an easy
subject for me). Got my 2nd class honours in mathematics (could've got a
first but too many distractions) and it was onward and upward. I got almost
a full grant topped up by my parents, except that I paid the small bit extra
myself out of savings (I earned well in the MetO then). Now students get an
interest free loan which my children tell me is not as bad as some people
make out, however, we funded all our three children through Uni as we could
afford it.

Will
--
" Some sects believe that the world was created 5000 years ago. Another sect
believes that it was created in 1910 "
http://www.lyneside.demon.co.uk/Hayt...antage_Pro.htm
Will Hand (Haytor, Devon, 1017 feet asl)
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