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PICTURE THE SCENE: you’re 18 years old. you’ve worked hard all your life and you’re finally in a position to follow your dream of getting your own boat, and some expert lessons to go with it.
you’ve been studying and practising hard at beginner and intermediate level boating, and with all that hard work you passed all the relevant qualifications. hurray! you’re ready to move on to the professional standard of boating, something you’ve been aiming for your whole life.
it costs a fair bit of money to go to Boat School but you take out a loan to cover the costs, and some of the cost you pay for yourself with some money from your part time job.
you’re delighted! you’re finally achieving the dream you worked so hard towards.
you’re delighted! you’re finally achieving the dream you worked so hard towards.
and then the pandemic hits.
you’ve spent lots of money through loans on your boat, the boat lessons, and a decent place to stay near where your lessons happen. and now you can’t access any of them safely or legally.
so you ask for the money back.
so you ask for the money back.
“it’s not fair that things have started out like this, is there any chance I could get a refund or my loans cancelled, and I’ll come back when it’s safe?”
“no!” says the Boat School and the loan providers. “we’ll keep your money and provide an equivalent level of training.”
“no!” says the Boat School and the loan providers. “we’ll keep your money and provide an equivalent level of training.”
“it’ll be just as worth your money!”
you’re uncertain, but you’ve not got much choice. you’ve committed to paying £27,750 (£9250/year over 3 years) for the lessons, and around £20,577 (£6859/year) for the boat, boat maintenance and living costs.
you’re uncertain, but you’ve not got much choice. you’ve committed to paying £27,750 (£9250/year over 3 years) for the lessons, and around £20,577 (£6859/year) for the boat, boat maintenance and living costs.
you decide to trust the Boat School and the loan providers that they’ll do their best to provide the same education experience they promised.
so you move into your new place, very excited for your first day of learning at a prestigious level!
so you move into your new place, very excited for your first day of learning at a prestigious level!
you look at your timetable and every session is online. it makes sense, as it’s not safe to meet face-to-face, but you’re confused how you can learn to sail a boat without being with the boat.
your teacher is great, but they’re not well practised at this online teaching thing.
your teacher is great, but they’re not well practised at this online teaching thing.
you can’t blame them! they’ve had very little time to adapt their entire teaching plan to work online. they’re trying their best.
they’re teaching you how to check your boat is safe. this is an area you struggle with and are looking forward to learning properly from an expert.
they’re teaching you how to check your boat is safe. this is an area you struggle with and are looking forward to learning properly from an expert.
they’re going through all the relevant instructions, but it’s hard to take it all in. besides, you’re not with your boat! you’re in your flat, in a new city, staring at your computer screen. it’s not the teacher’s fault, but you’re frustrated.
by the end of the first week you’re even more frustrated. you have now learned that you have some assignments to complete in the first part of your course. normally, you would need your boat, but because of the pandemic, all the assignments are modified to do from home.
sure, you’re learning bits and pieces, but it’s not quite what you were expecting.
or what you’re paying for.
remember those numbers earlier?
or what you’re paying for.
remember those numbers earlier?
your first year, regardless of how it is affected by the pandemic, will cost you £16,109 at face value.
but you’re borrowing this money from a loan provider, so when you start paying it back they will charge interest.
but you’re borrowing this money from a loan provider, so when you start paying it back they will charge interest.
neither the Boat School nor the loan providers caused the pandemic, but it is difficult to say that you are getting £16,109 worth of education out of the current agreement.
but neither the Boat School nor the loan providers are budging. this price stays the same.
but neither the Boat School nor the loan providers are budging. this price stays the same.
so you’re paying for education through a screen, without the equipment that is vital to your course, with no access to other materials like libraries, and because of the pandemic you’re stuck in the flat you’re paying high prices for because it is close to the Boat School.
this is what is happening right now at universities around the UK.
(in case my very blatant analogy wasn’t blatant enough)
(in case my very blatant analogy wasn’t blatant enough)
i’m studying the final year of my BA in Filmmaking. i signed up to this course because, a) it was all coursework based, and b) we were making films with industry standard equipment.
we are no longer doing practical coursework, or making films.
we are no longer doing practical coursework, or making films.
if you were paying £48,327 for a course in which you would be graduating with less knowledge and experience of your subject than those graduating before you, without the opportunities or equipment you need to succeed, you’d be angry too.
