While state funding for higher education is being slashed, a Demos think tank report suggests that students should be forced to ‘earn’ the money coming from the state towards their education by doing community service.
Higher Education minister David Lammy claims this scheme would “ease the burden on public services”. Presumably this would mean untrained volunteers carrying out the jobs of skilled public sector workers who will lose their jobs once massive cuts are carried out by whichever party forms the next government.
If implemented this scheme would cost £450 million, with the money needed raised from increasing the interest rates on student loans. Students would therefore be ‘rewarded’ for their civic service by being plunged further into debt.
