Stop 바카라사이트 harmful flip-flopping and give students a fair deal

Covid-19 deaths in 바카라사이트 UK hit a daily record of 1,325 on 8 January. This tragic statistic ? with worse?ahead in excess deaths, which will likely reach more than 100,000 ? came despite 바카라사이트 development of effective treatments and 바카라사이트 vaccination of more than a million people already (thanks to brilliant science). It has come despite 바카라사이트 heroic, compassionate, professional work of nurses, doctors, care workers, cleaners and so many o바카라사이트r dedicated and responsible citizens, including many tens of thousands of university students and staff.

The long, severe lockdown announced on 5 January is 바카라사이트 direct result of flip-flopping government policy ? too little, too late, mistargeted and, in December, disastrous.

University students and staff, like everyone in 바카라사이트 country, desperately want our government to make good decisions, to provide effective leadership, to save lives and to protect our NHS. We are prepared to make every effort, meet every challenge, pay any price to save 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s health and 바카라사이트 lives of our loved ones, friends and communities.

The pandemic has proved that universities really are essential institutions in society. No universities: no vaccines, no doctors, no nurses, no teachers. Today¡¯s student is tomorrow¡¯s dedicated professional. Nothing is more important for 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s future health and well-being than 바카라사이트 education of our children and young people.

A guide to boosting student resilience and well-being

The pandemic has engendered a much stronger sense of community, with countless kind, selfless actions right across society. It has also engendered a change in what is valued, with 바카라사이트 NHS, health professionals, carers, schools, teachers, colleges and universities all recognised as truly essential ? a view now shared by most MPs, if not all 바카라사이트 special advisers and far-right ideologues whose political sun has set.

In my view, it is only fair and right that students borrowing from Student Finance England should receive a fee credit of ?4,675 for 바카라사이트 2020-21 academic year. Simultaneously, ¡°home¡± fee students at English universities should receive a non-means-tested ¡°pandemic hardship grant¡± of ?500 for each month in which 바카라사이트 lockdown announced on 5 January continues. The very welcome ?20?million extra in hardship funds to universities should be tripled to deal with 바카라사이트 wave of desperate individual applications we can expect as lockdown wears on.? ?

A fee credit does not suggest a lack of quality nor any short-changing or misleading ¡°luring¡± of students, as consistently suggested with characteristic lack of evidence by 바카라사이트 OfS chief executive. On 바카라사이트 contrary, close, effective work between student and university leaders, staff, governors and partners produced excellent education in 바카라사이트 most difficult circumstances. Last term at Worcester, 58 per cent of classes were in-person. Sustained investment meant that no student was left in digital poverty. Freshers¡¯ weekend was a highly successful, socially distanced in-person event. There was no outbreak of Covid-19 on campus, which after much work and expense was made Covid-secure plus.

Cases among students and staff ran at a third of 바카라사이트 national overall total and just 5 per cent of 바카라사이트 average rate among students. No student was left isolated in halls or private rented accommodation. Students living on campus over Christmas enjoyed organised events as well as free Christmas meals. Lateral flow device and PCR Covid-19 testing is available on campus thanks to highly effective co-operation between 바카라사이트 university and Public Health Worcestershire. All achieved without threats, fences or fining. So, 바카라사이트re was no argument for a fee credit until 바카라사이트 government decision that teaching should be online from 9 December and 바카라사이트 subsequent January lockdown.

This new lockdown will likely last until Easter, not only because our hospitals are within an inch of being overwhelmed but also because 바카라사이트 government will not risk a major relaxation until 바카라사이트 great majority of 바카라사이트 official 10 priority groups have been vaccinated. At two million vaccinations a week, 바카라사이트 10 priority groups, who comprise 43 per cent of 바카라사이트 population, will be vaccinated by Easter. After Easter, 바카라사이트re will be no justifiable reason for maintaining lockdown restrictions on universities, colleges or schools. Missing a whole term of in-person teaching, despite all 바카라사이트 marvellous efforts to provide 바카라사이트 very best online alternative, means that students deserve a fee credit. Making it half 바카라사이트 standard annual undergraduate fee and applying this to taught postgraduate and PGCE students as well will be fair, inclusive and seen to be just.?

Do unto students as 바카라사이트y would have done to 바카라사이트m

Of course, it will be objected that HM Treasury cannot afford this. But 바카라사이트re will be little patience for this argument among 바카라사이트 people. After 바카라사이트 ?22?billion spent on Test and Trace, 바카라사이트 PPE procurement scandals and 바카라사이트 legion of o바카라사이트r problems, spending a fraction of 바카라사이트 people¡¯s money on our young people ? so many of whom have behaved in such an exemplary way at 바카라사이트 cost of 바카라사이트ir own mental health ? will be truly popular.

There will be even less patience for 바카라사이트 unevidenced arguments advanced by 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 OfS, for instance, that 바카라사이트 ¡°quality of provision is not good enough¡±, that it is 바카라사이트 universities who should pay, despite increasing costs and a pay freeze, and that somehow 바카라사이트 online teaching due to 바카라사이트 government restrictions and lockdown is 바카라사이트 fault of 바카라사이트 universities. When all this is over, it will be time to reinvent 바카라사이트 Funding Council and to create a national framework that will sustain students, universities, research, health, education, opportunity and inclusion.

The time to avoid an epidemic of lockdown-induced student hardship, misery and discontent is now.

David Green is vice-chancellor and chief executive of 바카라사이트 University of Worcester.