• HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    In 2008 we had the first great recession.

    When it hit, public services were in a good place, and people did have enough saved to help cushion the blow. While I’d like to say Labour are to thank for that, their introduction of tuition fees (a measure now destroying higher education) shows that it isn’t always the case.

    This time, public services are already “unhealthy” due to years of systematic under-investment and minor privatisations (why buy an MRI when you can rent it right?). People don’t have the savings to weather it due to a decade and a half of stagnant wages. A lot of this is thanks to Tory policies, and a good chunk of blame lies there.

    So, we’re seeing a surge in people losing out, rather than overextended companies going bust. It feels “worse” this time because it isn’t people losing their jobs because a company went bust, it’s people starving and freezing while working full time.

    • Squizzy@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Have you any resources on the tuition being bad, I believe it to be but I keep hearing how it’s a great system that you only pay back upon earning a certain amount.

      • HexesofVexes@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        As someone whose salary is based on how much tuition others are paying, and who is losing about £1200 per year paying it back, I can categorically say it’s bad from both ends.

        The tuition freeze has essentially meant universities in the UK have had a budget cut every year based on inflation, which is now driving a push towards international recruitment since they pay the bills.

        The higher education sector is increasingly mimicking our school system (a true failure); with universities prioritising progression and student appeal over quality of education. Indeed, we even have our own “opt in” Ofsted (Office For Students), so eager is our government to see us follow the school system into ruin.