(Title Image: Cardiff University)
- Education Minister rejects call to cut tuition fees to take into account Covid-19 disruption.
- Conservatives argue students should be getting value for money for their courses.
- Worries over the impact of social isolation on students’ mental health.
The Motion
The Senedd:
- Notes the importance of higher and further education and believes students deserve value for money in return for the investment they make in their higher and further education, noting that there has been no reduction in fees paid by students to reflect the impact of the pandemic on their studies.
- Regrets the interruption to courses and welcomes additional financial resources provided to Welsh colleges and universities to support them through the pandemic.
- Calls on the Welsh Government to:
- work with colleges and universities to ensure that fees reflect the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on their courses
- ensure students access learning either in person or, in the event of unavoidable Covid-19 restrictions, through more live streaming
- address the concerns of students, employers, and further and higher education providers concerning a narrowing of the syllabus of some courses
“You need to be able to see the whites of your tutor’s eyes”
Shadow Education Minister, Suzy Davies MS (Con, South Wales West), ran through some ways in which the Covid-19 pandemic has impacted students. While virtual lectures may work for some courses, what about those which require a lot of practical experience? Also, the NUS says 38% of students believe online study wasn’t of a good standard.
“If you are going to accrue a minimum of £27,000-worth of debt for tuition to do an undergraduate course, you’re going to want £27,000-worth of quality education. And again, blended learning may be part of that quality offer, but if you’re paying that kind of money I think you want to be able to see the whites of your tutor’s eyes and to have them there to engage in discussion.”
– Shadow Education Minister, Suzy Davies MS
Janet Finch-Saunders MS (Con, Aberconwy) questioned the fairness of an Open University course costing £2,000 a year, while other universities were charging £9,000 for what have effectively become the same courses?
Helen Mary Jones MS (Plaid, Mid & West Wales) had sympathy for some aspects of the motion, but couldn’t support cutting income streams to universities and colleges when they were already facing serious financial challenges. Jenny Rathbone MS (Lab, Cardiff Central) noted the impact a fall in international students will have on Cardiff University.
Several members noted the mental health impact on the 2020 intake, many of whom will have been caught up in the A-Level results fiasco or are now at risk of developing mental health problems caused by social isolation in campus dorms.
Universities and colleges “have gone above and beyond” to support students
Praising how the further and higher education sectors responded to the pandemic’s challenges the Education Minister, Kirsty Williams (Lib Dem, Brecon & Radnor), listed ways in which the Welsh Government has financially supported both sectors. While in England institutions have been offered loans, the Welsh Government has provided non-repayable cash.
A tuition/course fee reduction was, however, quickly ruled-out:
Despite the situation, university applications have increased in terms of overall numbers and the proportion of Welsh-domiciled students studying in Wales. Dangers remain though and Covid-19 cases on university and college campuses will be closely monitored over the coming weeks.
Vote
