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‘40% of UK university students say courses worthless’

UK

In Britain, as many as four in 10 university students, who have paid an increased tuition fee, believe their courses were not worth the money they had to pay for.

Just over half of the students polled in a BBC Radio 5 survey, the state-run broadcaster, believe that their courses have been good value for money. Under the previous coalition government, university tuition fees were raised from £3,000 per year to £9,000 per year. Before entering coalition, the Liberal Democrats made a cast-iron pledge that they would not raise tuition fees. But when they formed a government with the Tories, they went back on their promise.

Director of the Higher Education Policy Institute Nick Hillman has pointed out that universities "don't have much more money" now, despite the skyrocketing tuition fees.

But Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, believes that there is no evidence to suggest that students have been put off going to university by the increased tuition fees.

Dandridge also believes that “the shift in England from public funding to increased fees means that students are understandably, and rightly, demanding more from their university courses. Universities are responding to this and are also improving the amount of information to students about courses to ensure that their experience matches their expectations.”

Now Zita Holbourne, who is with the ‘Black Activists Rising Against Cuts’ (BARAC), says the students have had no choice as “they can’t access the labor market. They can’t access any facilities and resources because of all the cuts.”

Students in England and Wales are faced with high tuition fees and extra stress over their courses as a result. Scottish students do not pay tuition fees, enjoying free university education. Campaigners have long called for free university education for all, saying that education is a right, not a privilege.

LM/GHN


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