Nick Clegg: Universities to lower entrance requirements for poorer students only

**-:Undertaker:-** · 08-02-2011, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by Catzsy

I don't think any of us expect to lower standards under the banner of equality. Help with fees is all we ask for for the less advantaged students who match the full criteria for entrance to the universities. If anything that is unequal.

The reason why we have this problem is because of the policies concerning state education of which the likes of yourself support.

But don't worry, just like with all the moaning on this forum and in general over tuition fees, you will simply go out again at the next election and vote for the party again [Labour] which a) suggested the rise in the first place & b) will not commit itself to reversing the changes made in tuition fees by this government because in reality it was going to do the exact same but because it wants your votes it will pretend to oppose them.

I say again, you all rant and rave about so-called 'equality' but when it starts to affect you; its a different kettle of fish.

Originally Posted by Hecktix

Tuition fees are one thing, which in my opinion everyone can get used to and put up with - the Government have reasons for raising fees, I believe taking it out on future generations is the wrong thing to do however you can see the reasoning behind tuition fee rises. I agree that with any party in power tuition fees would have risen.

Giving poorer students lower entry requirements to get into university won't rectify this problem in anyway, everyone will still be able to afford to go to university with the loans system however this is just pure discrimination to encourage poorer people to go to University - it's a quick fix to a statistical problem of poorer students not getting into the top universities, when in reality making Universities take a quota of each class would be much more fair, for instance Cambridge & Oxford are two I know for sure have to accept a certain amount of students from state schools - this is certainly much fairer.

I didn't work my arse off to get the grades to get into my university to be joined by people who cruised here two grades lower because they are a little bit poorer. Then of course we have that lovely argument of what is poor. This just sums the coalition up altogether.

This, is something completely different

I agree with you, but if you do not want this to continue then you must vote for other parties other than the main trio.

..otherwise, well it's pointless complaining isn't it?

**FlyingJesus** · 08-02-2011, 07:36 PM

Helping more with fees is one thing (which I'm not 100% opposed to or in agreement with) but any "equality" legislation that tampers with actual results and acceptances can only do harm - not just to the more able yet more affluent students who lose out on placements but also to the universities who will either see less able students failing and therefore suffer worse averages or bring down the targets and suffer a loss of standing

Fez · 08-02-2011, 07:51 PM

I agree with the paying fees business they're doing, nobody pays until they're earning above £21,000, that's fine. It's the actual system of getting the degree that's just completely ill-minded.

Chippiewill · 08-02-2011, 07:54 PM

This is probably intended to combat the problem of more prosperous families buying an advantage into university, but by trying to make it fairer they're just creating the problem again except now they're only affecting a minority but to a far greater degree. Why should I have to work harder because my parents earn more? This is basically the exact opposite of what they should be doing as this is just another reason for students not to work as hard.

I agree with you, but if you do not want this to continue then you must vote for other parties other than the main trio.

..otherwise, well it's pointless complaining isn't it?

It's probably easier to convince a few hundred people than several millions.

Nuxty · 08-02-2011, 08:31 PM

Would this give poorer students the message that they don't need to work as hard in order to get into good universities? Thats the way I am seeing it. I think it will basically put the poorer students off working as hard as they know that not as much would be expected from them??

I think the idea is pathetic, I agree with what Oli said, a quote would be good. Cambridge and Oxford do this I believe, a guy from Churchill College popped into my school last week and gave a talk on it and he said that 70% of students at Oxbridge come from State Schools. I think its a silly decision and it won't help.

In my own personal opinion, I don't believe that any entry requirement should be below BBB for any course at any uni.

Catzsy · 08-02-2011, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by -:Undertaker:-

The reason why we have this problem is because of the policies concerning state education of which the likes of yourself support.

But don't worry, just like with all the moaning on this forum and in general over tuition fees, you will simply go out again at the next election and vote for the party again [Labour] which a) suggested the rise in the first place & b) will not commit itself to reversing the changes made in tuition fees by this government because in reality it was going to do the exact same but because it wants your votes it will pretend to oppose them.

I say again, you all rant and rave about so-called 'equality' but when it starts to affect you; its a different kettle of fish.

I agree with you, but if you do not want this to continue then you must vote for other parties other than the main trio.

..otherwise, well it's pointless complaining isn't it?

No its isn't - I didn't vote for this lot and even when Labour are in again if I don't agree with a policy I will say so and that's my right as a citizen of this country. If you had to agree with all policies to vote for a PP no one would ever vote. I vote to whoever is closest to my views & opinons.

say again, you all rant and rave about so-called 'equality' but when it starts to affect you; its a different kettle of fish.

This has nothing to do with equality and I am not a member of the NIMBY brigade. I am sure that if this happens the lesser qualified students will suffer enormously unless they are going to downgrade the curriculum.

Jam · 08-02-2011, 09:11 PM

Ballsed my exams up, but I'd rather take a job at retail than ever be £21K in debt, don't see why family's in debt to begin with should think any other.