With the latest Government announcement, the majority of university students across the UK have been told they cannot return to face to face teaching until 17 May, even though most students have already finished for the year. At a time when non essential shops, pubs, gyms, and zoos have all been allowed to open, it really poses the question: are pubs and hair cuts really more important than my education?
Stuck in Limbo
I am a second year English and History student at the University of York. Due to the pandemic (and strikes earlier in 2020), I haven’t seen the inside of a lecture theatre or seminar room since January 2020. And whilst my university has been proactive in adapting to online education and attempting to offer the best teaching possible under these circumstances, zoom lectures do not warrant my £9,250 a year payment.
“Since December, we have been left in limb0”
The recent announcement, which Universities UK called “hugely disappointing”, has left many students feeling neglected and forgotten about by a Government who prioritises pubs and hair cuts over those paying nine grand a year for a university experience which we are simply not receiving.
A petition has since been set up to allow all university students to return to on-campus teaching. The petition states: “It is abhorrent that the Government has repeatedly ignored students in their briefings and trivialised our education. We urge the Government to prioritise the return of all students in Higher Education.”
Since December, we have been left in limbo, with the Government’s lack of guidance leaving many unsure whether to return to university residences. And now, the announcement comes only once most students have finished for the summer.
OUR TURN TO RETURN
SIGN PETITION & SHARE: https://t.co/oa2SKEegAPWe have launched a government petition for all students to be allowed to return to university by the beginning of term.
Please share with friends, family, and students all across the UK! pic.twitter.com/ox0bEkz8ic
— PresCom (@PresComOxford) April 12, 2021
The Student Voice
I approached students for their thoughts on the government’s decision to delay students’ return to in-person teaching. Ellie, a second year geography student, told me: “It’s unfair and proves how little the Government actually cares about students… [they] only care if our money is in their pockets. Especially when I can go to the pub or a theme park and can’t even have a socially distanced seminar, it’s ridiculous.”
“We’re tired of being an afterthought”
Another student suggested: “I get that a full lecture theatre might be out of the picture, but I just need something to get me out of my room, please. This isn’t the university experience we signed up for and we’ve been completely forgotten about.”
happy to announce that as a university student, the may 17th opening of Unis would give me a grand total of 5 days of classes before we break up, and I graduate
— Bethany Dawson (@bethanymrd) April 13, 2021
University students can’t help feeling like an afterthought, especially with schools, one of the biggest Covid-hotspots, having been open for months already. Most students I know have been incredibly responsible during the pandemic, following all the guidelines and making sacrifices just like everybody else. Yet the only time we’re acknowledged by the government it is to be blamed for the rise in cases.
“This isn’t what we signed up for. We deserve more.”
The Education System is Failing us
As of the latest guidance, I can now get a haircut, rent a holiday cottage, go to the zoo, and meet friends at the pub. What I can’t do is see those same friends in a seminar. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a pub trip as much as the next person after so long. But there’s only so many zoom technical issues I can take before breaking point. We’re tired of being an afterthought.
Receiving this guidance so late is having a detrimental impact on student’s learning and, undoubtedly, their mental health, especially after a year of eating, sleeping, and learning within the same four walls. A National Union of Students survey found that more than half of students say their mental health has deteriorated as a result of the pandemic and of those who sought support, only 57% were satisfied with the help they were given. This isn’t what we signed up for. We deserve more.
Lol love that May 17 is the earliest the government are allowing students back to uni, I’ll just sit at home and twiddle my thumbs until then shall I, bc my education obviously doesn’t matter anyway
— aimee 🧋 (@aimee__leigh) April 13, 2021
University is supposed to be the best years of our life. Whilst I recognise that there are bigger issues going on right now, students have been constantly ignored – except when being blamed for the rise in cases; caged in like animals and have now been denied the education we are paying 9k a year for. We deserve better.
Emily Smith
Featured image courtesy of courtesy of Dom Fou on Unsplash. Image license can be found here. No changes were made to this image.
