Is The Further Education System Complicated In Your Country?
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
February 15, 2011 8:07am CST
I have often wondered this. Now, I am not at an age where I am familiar with what's out there as I am not a teenager anymore and, in many ways, I'm glad I'm not. It's a minefield out there!
Poorer kids are supposed to get help with Tuition Fees, also with accommodation. This is set to change, as far as I know and if any Brits want to enlighten me on it, please feel free, as I find it all so confusing.
Is it the same outside the UK? Our so-called "elite" Universities, Cambridge and Oxford, want to increase their Tuition Fees to the maximum of £9,000 a year. Is it a year? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is..in the past there were TOO MANY young people wanting to go to Uni and now that has to be reduced, hence the rise in fees. Unfortunately, there are no jobs for them either. Personally, I blame the demise of the Polytechnics as they have been "re-branded" if you like as Universities. I don't think there is a proper choice. You either get duff courses or ace ones, nothing inbetween. Degrees were too easy to get (depending on what was studied) and the Tories, especially want this to stop, so that only the really bright kids get the best jobs. I hope all this makes sense!
Is Yale and Harvard similar to Oxford and Cambridge in the fact they want to attract the more well-off students? I'd love to know more about them and other Universities across the world.
My cousin has a brilliant job travelling the world trying to recruit foreigners into our Universities. That's where the money is, it seems.
Is it the same outside the UK? Our so-called "elite" Universities, Cambridge and Oxford, want to increase their Tuition Fees to the maximum of £9,000 a year. Is it a year? Anyway, what I'm trying to say is..in the past there were TOO MANY young people wanting to go to Uni and now that has to be reduced, hence the rise in fees. Unfortunately, there are no jobs for them either. Personally, I blame the demise of the Polytechnics as they have been "re-branded" if you like as Universities. I don't think there is a proper choice. You either get duff courses or ace ones, nothing inbetween. Degrees were too easy to get (depending on what was studied) and the Tories, especially want this to stop, so that only the really bright kids get the best jobs. I hope all this makes sense!
Is Yale and Harvard similar to Oxford and Cambridge in the fact they want to attract the more well-off students? I'd love to know more about them and other Universities across the world.
My cousin has a brilliant job travelling the world trying to recruit foreigners into our Universities. That's where the money is, it seems.1 person likes this
9 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
15 Feb 11
I can relate as i am still pay the $140 thousand dollar college loans and that was simply for an out of state four year university. I have checked out what the going rate is for a continuing MA degree is in our local universities and college and at minimum it would cost something like $30,000 - $40,000 to complete.
Not only is it really expensive but the loan processing is not as easy to get on deferment as it use to be. As now if you qualify it may be with co-signer along with monthly interest payments.
So when I hear our government and politicians say Stay In School, I often ask myself how the in the world can we make it happen.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Feb 11
Oh my, that is expensive isn't it? 
When I left school I was able to go on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) which was much criticised at the time BUT, it enabled me to go to College, linked with the job I had. I didn't have to pay any fees or anything. The pay at my work placemetn was £35 a week but, compared to youngsters like my nephew (who, curently gets nothing) it's not bad, especially when you consider it was way back in 1982. I was lucky that I got kept on after a year. That is where the criticism came in as it was a way of employers keeping their wage bills down but not necessarily keeping anyone on at the end of the Schemes. Cheap labour, in other words. I prefer that system to what is around now though..which is zilch.
When I left school I was able to go on a Youth Training Scheme (YTS) which was much criticised at the time BUT, it enabled me to go to College, linked with the job I had. I didn't have to pay any fees or anything. The pay at my work placemetn was £35 a week but, compared to youngsters like my nephew (who, curently gets nothing) it's not bad, especially when you consider it was way back in 1982. I was lucky that I got kept on after a year. That is where the criticism came in as it was a way of employers keeping their wage bills down but not necessarily keeping anyone on at the end of the Schemes. Cheap labour, in other words. I prefer that system to what is around now though..which is zilch.
@zweeb82 (5652)
• Malaysia
15 Feb 11
Yes, sounds more like a SCAM it seems, haha!~
We've got so many people going to "Universities" from our country that some certs are not even worth anything, sad to say UK has a major part to play, as well as the US & Australia. Did you know 10 years ago, during the education fair, a person could get five thousand Malaysian Ringgit for "introducing" someone into a particular "university"? Now, they're paying people or even students to go into schools to recruit people, two thousand Malaysian Ringgit per head, so I was told by someone. And this is already 3rd party or 4th party, imagine how much the ones who deal direct with the "universities" get
We've got so many people going to "Universities" from our country that some certs are not even worth anything, sad to say UK has a major part to play, as well as the US & Australia. Did you know 10 years ago, during the education fair, a person could get five thousand Malaysian Ringgit for "introducing" someone into a particular "university"? Now, they're paying people or even students to go into schools to recruit people, two thousand Malaysian Ringgit per head, so I was told by someone. And this is already 3rd party or 4th party, imagine how much the ones who deal direct with the "universities" get@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Feb 11
This isn't a dig at my cousin is it? He only visits the more affluent countries..probably Dubai, places like that, for his recruiting. He also gets flown by helicopter to oil rigs and recruits people from those, as, once these guys stop drilling for oil there isn't anything for them..my cousin provides an alternative i.e. higher education. I can't see anything wrong with that, to be honest but there again I haven't seen him for years so there's no telling what his job entails.
At least he has one.
1 person likes this
@zweeb82 (5652)
• Malaysia
16 Feb 11
Well, there's nothing wrong if the cert is of worth plus I'm not exactly sure with what your cousin does but there's a lot of hanky-panky here. I mean if the cert is not recognized it's just as good as fitting the description of that of a con artist? Cheating people's hard earned money? Like "direct-sales" that uses the illegal "pyramid" system
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Feb 11
I don't think it is wise to insult my cousin like that. If he is anything like the rest of them on my Mum's side of the family, he will be a hard-working, honest individual. Please do not judge him. His job will be legit, I'm 99.9% sure of that.
1 person likes this
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
15 Feb 11
The UK has encouraged too many people to go to university. This was a shameless trick by St Tony to boost Britain's graduate figures to make it appear that we were a lead EC nation in education terms. The effect has been to increase the expectations of youngsters who never would have made it to university previously and to cause an artificial increase in the entry criteria of jobs that used to be done by non-graduates. Arts courses have proliferated whilst sciences have struggled. Having a daughter in university in the UK and having also part funded her for a year on the US I can tell you that a. The US system is more rigorous than ours and b. £9,000 is chicken feed. Her fees were $22,000 (£14,000) a year plus health insurance and board. What we need is a return to investment in manufacturing and proper jobs with apprenticeships. Graduates expect more and won't get their hands dirty doing things that they perceive as undermining to their graduate status. I can go on for hours on this subject but I'll stop there.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Feb 11
Thanks for that. I do agree that Blair is to blame for all this (and I'm a Labour supporter) and the fact he "admired Thatcher" speaks volumes.
I agree with everything you say about arts courses, etc overtaking, I suppose, the more important courses, which is why we have a shortfall in..well, clever people to put it bluntly. It was a prestigious thing wasn't it, gaining a degree in something worthwhile. I reckon you pass now if you spell your name right, and it's the same with the dumbing down of A Levels, especially.
People leaving Uni are now realising that even admin jobs aren't available for them, so they are going on the dole.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
15 Feb 11
There were all these riots last year when the UCs (University of California) raised tuition, but not much uproar this year when they increased their enrollment of foreign students and decreased the number of students from California. They said it was so students would be exposed to more people from other cultures, but I'm sure money had a lot to do with it.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
15 Feb 11
The UK average income us around £25,000 pa Janey. The north/south divide does exist and it has been perpetuated mostly by the loss of manufacturing jobs in the north. But most people in the south are not on anything like £40,000pa. When I was working in my career our income was around £70,000; today it just breaks the £30,000 mark. Still a lot by many People's standards and we do own our house, but we only eat caviar every other month these days. LOL.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Feb 11
Over here couples are classed as being poor if they are earning a total of £40,000! This is in relation to help with their kids' fees. Unfortunately, there is still a North/South divide, especially in England..so, £40,000 for a couple living in London is indeed a paltry sum, but up here in Carlisle it's a small fortune. I reckon the Unis down south don't want any Northerners in them. Why? Because they're snobs. But, once the foreigners pay up, problem solved around the country then..at the expense of those who are really desperate to get on in life. I do admire what my cousin does but I often wonder if it's at the expense of home-grown students, so to speak. I'm glad he's working though..wouldn't want him to be unemployed like me.
1 person likes this
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
15 Feb 11
Hiya Janey,
It is complicated and expensive although the Fees have not gone up yet this Year I suppose they will hold that off for a while as Pre-Elections are in for May.
As as expensive as anywhere else and like you said it´s going to be much harder for the younger ones that want to enter too.
There are a few Open Universities for the late ones that decided to study much later on but I don´t know the real value of those either.
They are trying to limit the choices you have to choose as a Career which I don´t think is fair to make you study all that time and then to find out you have the limitations placed on you all of a sudden. I think at least the very least they should be told. There have been a lot of protests because of this too.
Good for your Cousin I bet he enjoys that kind of Job an unusual one that.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36847)
• Pamplona, Spain
17 Feb 11
Hiya Janey,
Married with a Brasilian Lady and they have just had a Baby now that is good News as well. In part it will help to make up for his bad childhood too. I hope he forgives his Dad someday but then that´s up to him.
If he loves his Job that is the most important thing of all. Hope he keeps going like that in his Career.
If he loves his Job that is the most important thing of all. Hope he keeps going like that in his Career.@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
15 Feb 11
He's married to a Brasilian lady and they've just had a baby, so all is going well for them and I'm pleased. He had an unhappy childhood, what with his parents splitting (I don't think he's ever forgiven his Dad) so it's obvious he's immersing himself in a job he loves. Good for him!
1 person likes this
@naani533 (70)
• India
16 Feb 11
hi friend... its an excellent discussion. now a days the further education is a bit complicated in our country. all the educational institutes are demanding money in lakhs. and the government inistitutions are dedicated for politicians and high class families. so it is difficult to poor people to continue their further studies in our country.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Feb 11
Hello..and welcome to MyLot! I'm glad you like my discussion, it's something I've wanted to mention for a while now.
Yes, another poster has mentioned that education favours the very rich in India and they get the best jobs. It's a bit like that here as well, I'm ashamed to say.
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
16 Feb 11
Economic divide is universal so the discrimination that goes with it. That is an unfortunate fact all over the world. There seems to be an emphasis on the turnout rather than on the quality of education here in India too. Not too long ago, only the students who topped could get admission into universities. Now it is just a matter of applying. Real education, unfortunately, is now a privilege of the so-called exclusive establishments and very few except the stinking rich can afford to study there. Consequently these students corner all the cream of cream jobs and get richer. Money begets money. We have to accept that! Maybe we can get inspired by this divide and get to work making riches, easier said than done though.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
16 Feb 11
Wow, I didn't realise it was the same in India too. That's a shame.
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
16 Feb 11
For me yes here in the Philippines complicated in security of the student because now many are scared to there children in terms of safety.
@akhileshebay (416)
• India
15 Feb 11
Now a days Education, mainly higher education is becoming a hotbed for filling the pockets of college management as there are so many professional courses and people ready to pay thousands of dollar for that.
Commercialization of education must stop, if we want to see healthy education is given to every student.
