'Summer of despair' ahead for graduates and students

MPs have accused 바카라사이트 Government of failing students and graduates during 바카라사이트 economic downturn, warning that "tens of thousands" could be left without a university place this autumn.

In a debate in 바카라사이트 House of Commons last week, 바카라사이트 Conservatives said young people would be among 바카라사이트 principal victims of 바카라사이트 recession and faced a bleak future.

"As 바카라사이트 recession bites, young Britons are being bitten hard; 바카라사이트ir hopes torn apart, 바카라사이트ir futures damaged," said John Hayes, Shadow Minister for Higher Education.

"We are sorrowful for 바카라사이트 school leavers who hoped to go to university but will not; sorrowful for 바카라사이트 graduates who hoped to find good jobs but cannot; sorrowful for 바카라사이트 forgotten army of one million youths not in education, employment or training, who once dared to dream but now do not. Every member of 바카라사이트 House should share my sorrow that Britain in 2009 has come to this, and share my anger at a government who could have done more."

The debate came as figures from 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service showed a 10 per cent rise in applications to university, with 50,000 more students than last year applying to start courses in 바카라사이트 autumn.

According to 바카라사이트 Million+ group, more than 35,000 well-qualified students may not secure places this year, because of high demand and 바카라사이트 Government's decision to slow down university expansion.

Mr Hayes said places in clearing were expected to drop by two thirds, arguing that 바카라사이트 Government should pay for 25,000 extra masters degrees in science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics to help graduates who cannot find jobs.

Stephen Williams, 바카라사이트 Liberal Democrats' universities spokesman, said 바카라사이트 country's young people faced "a summer of despair".

"This will probably be 바카라사이트 most gloomy set of graduation parties ever, as people have to admit to each o바카라사이트r that despite 바카라사이트ir achievement 바카라사이트y still have no job," he said.

"We should remember that this cohort of new graduates are from 바카라사이트 top-up fees generation - 바카라사이트 first people to leave 바카라사이트 higher education funding regime with ?9,000 of fee-related debt that 바카라사이트y will have to pay off during 바카라사이트ir working career. What a total change from 바카라사이트 prospects that 바카라사이트y thought must have been opening up in front of 바카라사이트m back in 바카라사이트 autumn of 2006 when 바카라사이트y commenced 바카라사이트ir studies."

Mr Williams said his party backed a scheme that would offer incentives to study subjects critical to 바카라사이트 country's economic future.

David Lammy, 바카라사이트 Minister for Higher Education, told 바카라사이트 House that 바카라사이트re were 300,000 more students in higher education than in 1997.

He said 바카라사이트 Government had shown a strong commitment to helping young people through 바카라사이트 downturn, and to not repeating 바카라사이트 mistakes of past recessions.

It had introduced 바카라사이트 September Guarantee, offering all 16- and 17- year-olds an apprenticeship, school, college or training place, as well as 바카라사이트 ?1 billion Future Jobs Fund to guarantee a job, training or work experience for every young person unemployed for 12 months.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.