Press Release: Ministers must stop treating students as second-class citizens
In response to new research on the take-up of bursaries by students, Shadow Universities and Skills Secretary, David Willetts said:
‘It is shocking that fewer than half of all people about to enter university are well-informed about the student bursary system. I wonder how many more never consider university as a result of this lack of knowledge. Together with the current crisis at the Student Loans Company, this new research confirms students are being treated as second-class citizens when it comes to their finances.
‘Ministers should have been doing much more to publicise the financial support on offer to students. This will be a key function of our independent all-age careers service, which will provide accessible web-based information to those considering university.
‘It is essential that the student finance review looks at this new evidence. The system must work for all students if we are to raise the proportion of students from poorer backgrounds.’
Notes to Editors
Key points from the research include:
‘From the research, it is clear that many HEIs [Higher Education Institutions] need to do more to improve how well-informed students, their parents, and HE advisors in schools and colleges are about institutional support.’ (p.2)
‘a quarter of the students and parents surveyed had not heard of bursaries even though all the students were just about to enter higher education. In addition, one in ten HE advisors in schools and colleges had not heard of bursaries, despite the key role such advisors play in giving information to potential students. Less than half of students surveyed considered themselves well-informed about bursaries. … HEIs over-estimated the proportion of students who said they were well-informed about bursaries.’ (p.3)
‘70% of all advisors thought “There is not enough information about bursaries.”‘ (p.4)
Source: Good practice guide for institutions, OFFA, 2009