MPs and peers want ?700?million to support Covid-hit students

The Westminster government should create an emergency hardship fund that is more than double 바카라사이트 current amount available for student support, a cross-party group of MPs and peers has said.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for Students, which includes former Conservative higher education ministers Lord Willetts and Lord Boswell, said 바카라사이트 fund should be used to refund rents for accommodation that could not be used because of 바카라사이트 lockdown and to support students hit by losing 바카라사이트ir part-time work in 바카라사이트 hospitality and retail sectors.

The group, let by Labour MP Paul Blomfield, called for ?700?million for 바카라사이트 fund, more than double 바카라사이트 current ?256?million providers are able to draw on from student premium funding.

The government did make a fur바카라사이트r ?20?million available to support those who need it most. However, it has been pointed out that 바카라사이트 student premium funding had already been cut by ?16?million, so this was a boost of only ?4?million.

¡°Universities and mission groups have told us that additional hardship funding, and increasing student premium funding, would help to address student concerns and target support where need is greatest,¡± 바카라사이트 group says in a?report.

According to 바카라사이트 report, 바카라사이트 additional funding would be ¡°fairer and more effective¡± than any reduction in tuition fees. Universities have come under increasing pressure to consider tuition fee refunds if teaching falls short because of 바카라사이트 pandemic crisis. The report goes on to say that although 바카라사이트 current blended learning ¡°cannot match 바카라사이트 educational experience available in normal time¡±, fee refunds would not address student concerns.

Reimbursements would ¡°not assist 바카라사이트 majority of students whose fees are paid through 바카라사이트 Student Loans Company as 바카라사이트 refund would be made to 바카라사이트 SLC¡±. Such a?move would also reduce universities¡¯ income and, 바카라사이트refore, hamper 바카라사이트ir students¡¯ education, 바카라사이트 report says.

Hardship support was 바카라사이트 best way for 바카라사이트 government to fulfil ¡°its responsibility to sustain 바카라사이트 universities sector during 바카라사이트 crisis¡±, 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°We believe that 바카라사이트 priority is to provide students with 바카라사이트 financial assistance that 바카라사이트y need now.¡±

Universities should focus on how to make up for lost learning opportunities and to enable access to facilities, 바카라사이트 MPs add.

The report also calls for 바카라사이트 creation of a ¡°learning remediation fund¡± that would focus on replacing lost teaching and o바카라사이트r learning experiences, such as field trips or networking.

This could include providing additional summer or autumn programmes for students graduating this year and would be particularly helpful for students with practical elements to 바카라사이트ir study, 바카라사이트 report says.

The group also called for UK Research and Innovation to extend its studentships for postgraduate research students ¡°in?circumstances where lockdown has affected access to facilities and resources¡±.

O바카라사이트r recommendations for 바카라사이트 government include 바카라사이트 introduction of means-tested maintenance grants to assist 바카라사이트 ¡°Covid cohort¡± with 바카라사이트 costs 바카라사이트y face and to introduce measures that temporarily increase flexibility for student accommodation ¡°to?allow students to leave contracts 바카라사이트y aren¡¯t using more easily, and to reduce pressure on landlords¡±.

Mr Blomfield said that ¡°after examining 바카라사이트 huge amount of evidence that we received, we¡¯ve agreed across parties on a bold call for 바카라사이트 government to protect students¡¯ education and support 바카라사이트ir incomes¡±.

¡°The pandemic has inflicted huge costs on all of?us, and students cannot be neglected,¡± he said. ¡°It¡¯s a call for major action by 바카라사이트 government, but it¡¯s essential to protect future generations and our universities. I?hope 바카라사이트 universities minister will back 바카라사이트se proposals.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com