Can't say that I've been following the mass hissyfit too closely, but from what I can tell it's fairly black and white...
I work full time (above minimum wage), and I have relatively minimal bills.
And yet most students seem to be able to spend money on...
- Clothes I can't afford.
- More nights on the lash than I can afford.
- Laptops/PC equipment I can't afford.
- Consoles I can't afford.
- Games/DVD's/CD's I can't afford.
Etc etc etc...
Now it seems they may have to spend their money on an education, rather than luxury items. Hence the OMG THIS IS SO UNFAIR!
Yes I'm sure I'm somehow misguided. But that's how it seems from my perspective.
Do you even know why they're protesting? Apparently none of us, current students, will be affected by the raise in tuition fees. However knowing the cost of living of an average student, I can only assure you that those that will be studying in a few years will have to bear a debt of approximately £12,000 a year. That is £36,000 for three years and £48,000 for four years of studies. If you think it's fair that a debt will double from the current average of
Max grant you can get atm (don't have to pay it back) is about £2,900 a year. With that you can get a loan of £2,600 or so. That is £5,500 a year for living and still leaves you off with £6,000 debt a year.
A standard cost of accommodation on any campus is anywhere from £70-120 a week, that is £3,500 to £6,000 a year if you pay for 50 weeks of living there.
Add in the cost of food, say £50-70 a week, works out at £2,500 to £3,500.
Average salary in the UK is around £26,000 atm, paying off 9% out of anything above £15,000 means that you pay off £1,000 a year or so.
£18,000-24,000 debt with the current tuition fees will be paid off in 18-24 years after graduating and will take a whole year of your work to pay off.
This is fair in comparison to what is going to happen. Students that start their higher education in 2012 will have to pay off 9% (not sure if that's correct) out of anything above £21,000 a year. Let's assume that an average salary raises to £27,000 by that time, that means paying off 9% out of £6,000, £540 a year. With their debts estimated to be around £36,000-48,000, they won't be able to pay their debts back for 68-89+ years, meaning that they will never pay it back
That is not all, the above estimations apply only to students from the low income class families. Those who have parents both earning something around the average salary of £26,000 will have little to none money from the grant meaning that their maintenance loan will be higher and the final debt will increase by up to £3,000 a year, working out at £9,000 to £12,000 after graduation.
There are also interest rates that cover the inflation rate, it is 4.4% for 2011 and isn't likely to back off any time soon.
The most productive students that took 4 years of studies (say a sandwich course) and that come from a middle class will possibly face paying off £60,000 debt. Of course many students will pay less than that but is it fair to set such a high tuition fees rate that doesn't take into account what courses you're taking or where you're studying? I think not.
Now the worst part, these rises will only affect students in England, those in Wales are still on £3,290 rate and in Scotland they won't have to pay anything.
Just to clarify, I don't and would not be protesting. There are better ways to waste my time.