2016: Why Can’t We Afford To Be Educated?

Having worked outside in the ‘real world’ for my 2 gap years and coming to university this year I always thought of tuition fees as almost a myth, something you hear about on the news, people discussing but never a reality. Since coming to study it has opened my eyes as to what an outdated system we truly have. There is probably students like me out there reading this and thinking the same, in fact I’m sure of it. That’s what I want to talk about now, what we, as the people effected can do about it. Now how is it that other countries in Europe, such as Germany, Norway and France, that can afford to send their students into higher education for free? This is a good question that unfortunately has a complicated answer but there are some simplicities. Germany invest 3% of their GDP (Gross Domestic Product) into higher education where as in the UK we invest on 1.7%. The spending on students is actually 20% higher in the UK, so where on earth does it all go? Countries across Europe including Germany put more money into research and teaching, witch I’m sure you’ll agree is something I would like to see here. England as a country pay the lowest Corporation Tax in the G20, they justify this as creating jobs in the business sector. But we ask, who is going to work these jobs if nobody can afford to be educated? Only 13% of students keep the same job for more than 4 years anyways

We look to our government in times like this but the Tories seem to want to raise the fees further but also have been heard to say they want to cut the University sector to help abolish them, well that’s very helpful. Labour simply have ‘promised’ to lower them back to the £6000 rate they previously raised it too. The thing that is confusing is that we are still paying for the same education across the board, so why the wavering costs?!

When it all boils down to it these comparisons seem to have one underlining factor. In other countries like Germany the taxpayer gets the bill (and are happy to pay) but here, we, the students get the bill.

What can we do though? I hear you ask. Well Graduate tax is a system that has been considered by previous Governments before and is one that is a step in the right direction. This will essentially mean that you do not have to pay anything at delivery level. It means that after graduating will be able to pay what it is they can afford, adding roughly 3p onto the current Income Tax. Along with this we can look at ways, like raising tax on businesses, to pump more money into our educations as opposed to taking it from us.

 

Maybe it’s time that we break away from all the facts, figures and arguments and think about the simple question, is education a privilege for the wealthy or a right for everybody?

Don’t Look Up..

I remember when I was 15 at school all I wanted was a brand new iPhone, I managed to track one down on EBay and my mum got me it for Christmas. After spending days downloading the anchor-man soundboard, something that made the sound of Indiana jones’s whip and more silly little games than you can shake a stick at it became normality to have everything I need to entertain me in my pocket. But as I’ve matured I have found new more adult ways and now use it for work reminders, Uber and of course the all-powerful CityMapper, it is no longer a plaything but something I don’t see how I could go about my day to day without. I know I am not alone in this, in this day and age to ask someone if they have smart phone would be greeted with a slightly sarcastic ‘obviouslyyyy’ and a funny look like you’ve travelled here from the past.

Now, I know I am not the only person who has an opinion on the use of phones but the reason I am moaning about it is that I have recently broken my foot, yeah annoying. Subjected to crutches and a clunky cast the one thing I knew would make it better is a guaranteed seat on the trains, but (gasp) this was not the case. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want to play the victim, I’ve not lost my faith in all humanity quite yet. What went through my head was that if no one even looks up enough to notice me, is this the case for people that need it more than myself.

The reason for this rant is to almost get to the bottom of this. It’s no secret that communication of any sought on the tube is a no no, and that’s not what I have a problem with, on the contrary I think it is wonderfully British in its own weird way. The thing I think is missing is the slight sense of community. We are all so quick to divulge ourselves into our own little world as soon as we are on our own I believe that’s making us miss a lot of what goes on around us. I’m not going to subject you to metaphors about how phones are destroying our humanity and making us into mindless cattle, on the country I believe that we have so much information and entertainment at our finger tips that we are losing sight of the urge to want to share this with others. Not in the simplistic way of simply posting a funny cat video on your friend’s Facebook wall but to really share in moments with real people.

What I’m trying to get at is that there’s nothing wrong with using your phone on the train, bus or anywhere really. But next time you’re filming at a gig recording your favourite song, maybe capture that moment with your eyes and memory not the screen. Next time you’re sitting in the park waiting for a friend, enjoy the trees without an Instagram filter or next time you pull into a busy train station, stop and have a look for me and my crutches looking thoroughly grumpy or perhaps someone who would really appreciate a seat or even simply a smile.

The Christmas Ads Are Coming To Town

It seems every year I have barely had time to take off my Halloween mask or put out my bonfire before I am learning how cheap I can buy 2 bottles of cava from the local co-op. So the question at hand is why everyone feels the need to start their festive season in the late days of October?

I think about this every time the new John Lewis advert surfaces and shuts down the country faster than any Kardashian behind could dream of. But does this really capture the spirit of everyone’s favourite holiday? The answer, sadly, is no. Because these adverts often do not capture the real reason everyone counts down the days until the 25^th. Instead they are forcing you to think of what really matters, the spending! Think about it, how early you think about buying countless presents for loved ones, friends, your boss, your dog, your boss’s dog? Now compare that too when you feel like you can enjoy your Christmas stress free?

The problem is in the ads. By letting the adverts define when our Christmas begins we are at risk of everyone’s favourite holiday (I know its mine) becoming what Easter or valentines day are already, a purely consumer based affair.

Brands like Sainbury’s and John Lewis’s ads always try and pull on the heartstrings by basing their campaigns around the values of Christmas that stand within all western participators. Themes never travel too far from  family values and bringing everyone together as one. Please. They use these values and distort them into a situation where people feel that the trick to achieving this idealistic holiday is by the quality of your products and everything that comes with them.

The truth is Christmas is not about what you have, it is about what you do with what you do have. You do not need those fancy sparkling Rudolf decorations or the parsnips that cost and extra £3 because of a sprinkling of rosemary to have an enjoyable 25th.

But saying all this, I would watch ‘The Man On The Moon’ a million times over to not have Kerry Katona try and sell me a festive take on frozen sausage rolls! let us never forget..