Coronavirus - political views - supporting or otherwise...

[Hacker Khan]

Totally agree, just wonder why some are prepared straight away to “bash” teachers.

Lot’s of things that have happened this year are down to the pandemic, strange how it’s only used by some when it suits their argument.

It's kind of a right wing narrative that flows all the way from the government down. Not 100% sure why, may be because it's difficult to make a a profit out of education? Who knows.

From my experience of teachers the vast majority have been working extremely hard in very challenging circumstances in an environment of constantly reducing funding. It would be great if schools could suddenly switch to top class on line learning at the drop of a hat. But the truth is the vast majority of school are constantly working at their limits of efficiency under all the targets they have to hit and pressures to get the kids to certain grades. So they simply did not have the capacity to turn into a provider of on line learning straight away. May be if schools were better funded they could have done this, but in terms of funding of public services you reap what you sow, especially under unprecedented circumstances.

And yes some teachers will be useless, but that is the same for all professions. And the unions at times do not help themselves. But the vast majority care deeply for the pupils and their futures.

 

[Hacker Khan]

We will only know the answer to this when the GCSE and A level grades are released in full and compared to previous years. The results are going to be higher than any other year, the only question is by how much? If they are totally out of sync with past years, how much more will trigger that feeling I don't know, then the support for teachers may reduce.

Pearson have to up their grading otherwise B-Tec students will miss out compared to the GCSE students.

GCSE are up across the board around 9% apparently, just seen that.

Not sure it will make up for the percentage drop in employment opportunities and all the rest of the **** we seem to be bequeathing to the next generation though.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Part of the blame for the situation schools are now in is the fact successive governments have changed so much, tests at earlier age, OFSTED, curriculum changes etc etc.

Add to that societies expectations of wanting “little jonny” to go to uni rather than get a trade etc and we’ve become a results based Country and imo, in the wrong areas.

Both of my parents were teachers. They used to groan every time the Education Sec got changed as each one wanted to leave their mark. Instead of allowing gentle evolution and time for new policies to settle in it would be upheaval every few years. Listen each time, it happens across Ministries but Education in particular, and you will hear the phrase 'radical overhaul of .............'

Also agree with your last point. That is starting to change with the expansion of apprenticeships. Hopefully Covid will not stall this too greatly although it is bound to have some impact.

 

[Ethan]

Govt just announced that national limits on student numbers for medicine, dentistry, veterinary and teaching. Inevitable, but doesn't create space or attachments for the students and what happens in X years when they graduate? Canada, NZ or Oz?

 

[SocketRocket]

Govt just announced that national limits on student numbers for medicine, dentistry, veterinary and teaching. Inevitable, but doesn't create space or attachments for the students and what happens in X years when they graduate? Canada, NZ or Oz?

Government announce 'what' for national limits on student numbers for medicine, dentistry, veterinary and teaching?

 

[SocketRocket]

It's kind of a right wing narrative that flows all the way from the government down. Not 100% sure why, may be because it's difficult to make a a profit out of education? Who knows.

From my experience of teachers the vast majority have been working extremely hard in very challenging circumstances in an environment of constantly reducing funding. It would be great if schools could suddenly switch to top class on line learning at the drop of a hat. But the truth is the vast majority of school are constantly working at their limits of efficiency under all the targets they have to hit and pressures to get the kids to certain grades. So they simply did not have the capacity to turn into a provider of on line learning straight away. May be if schools were better funded they could have done this, but in terms of funding of public services you reap what you sow, especially under unprecedented circumstances.

And yes some teachers will be useless, but that is the same for all professions. And the unions at times do not help themselves. But the vast majority care deeply for the pupils and their futures.

Surely a lot of the money available is used to pay for their pension funds.

 

[Ethan]

Government announce 'what' for national limits on student numbers for medicine, dentistry, veterinary and teaching?

Oops, that caps on numbers are removed, so Unis can take in more students. This has a few knock on effects, though.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I see the ban on evictions is lifted on Sunday. That's not good. Hearing stories of landlords threatening eviction action starting next week unless rent arrears are paid immediately. And of course many whose work is still on hold or who have lost their jobs have no income to pay what they owe - and there is no scope to pay arrears out of their UC - if that's what they are on - even if they can make up the shortfall between UC contribution to the rent and what they will be paying.

Houseowners who are in the same income situation could be taking a mortgage 'holiday' - money still has to be paid back but at least they might can a sympathetic ear or a rearrangement from the lender. Many private landlords may not feel they are able to be so accommodating - they may have mortgage payments or arrears to meet themselves. Risk of surge in homeless. What to do. Very worrying time for many.

Can or should the government do anything - or is it just tough - and a fact of life when you are on the dole. Meanwhile self-employed can apply for a second grant to keep themselves going...whether they need the money or not.

 

[SocketRocket]

I see the ban on evictions is lifted on Sunday. That's not good. Hearing stories of landlords threatening eviction action starting next week unless rent arrears are paid immediately. And of course many whose work is still on hold or who have lost their jobs have no income to pay what they owe - and there is no scope to pay arrears out of their UC - if that's what they are on - even if they can make up the shortfall between UC contribution to the rent and what they will be paying.

Houseowners who are in the same income situation could be taking a mortgage 'holiday' - money still has to be paid back but at least they might can a sympathetic ear or a rearrangement from the lender. Many private landlords may not feel they are able to be so accommodating - they may have mortgage payments or arrears to meet themselves. Risk of surge in homeless. What to do. Very worrying time for many.

Can or should the government do anything - or is it just tough - and a fact of life when you are on the dole. Meanwhile self-employed can apply for a second grant to keep themselves going...whether they need the money or not.

What do you suggest should happen?

 

[Old Skier]

You’re right about silh, but the Pearson BTEC statement says the following:

“Because BTEC results are largely based on continuous teacher-assessed projects and assignments, grade outcomes have been generally consistent with teacher and learner expectations. However, we have become concerned about unfairness, including consistency with the approaches now being used for GCSE and A Levels.

This means we will now be removing Pearson calculated grades and allowing higher outcomes for the externally examined units so they are in line with those assessed by teachers. We believe this is now a more trusted source of evidence of learner attainment.”

Isn’t the bit I’ve highlighted supporting the teachers rather than accussing them of being over generous?

Im not accusing, I’m just posting what was being said on media outlets. If it’s a better way of assessing students and so reliable why to we spend so much on exams and exam bodies.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

Im not accusing, I’m just posting what was being said on media outlets. If it’s a better way of assessing students and so reliable why to we spend so much on exams and exam bodies.

Nobody is saying it’s a better way, just the method they’ve chosen after it turning in to a cluster..

So going by the actual Pearson BTEC statement you can probably see the media outlets and commentators are at best misquoting what has been said.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Word on the grapevine this evening is that the eviction ban will be extended. That would be a very good thing done by the government - recognising the terribly difficult issues associated with having suddenly severely depleted income for months on end if not longer - which for many is just UC - for absolutely no fault of their own - and with nothing to fall back on to pay the arrears built up. They are not the feckless ones - they are those that need our support and encouragement.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

What do you suggest should happen?

Don't ask questions like that. It's all the governments fault and so as soon as we get a labour government we'll all be in the land of milk and honey

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

What do you suggest should happen?

What I'd like to happen is it seems what is most likely going to happen. I'm hoping that that is what everyone would have wanted to happen also. Those who disagree might find themselves disagreeing with the government action.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Don't ask questions like that. It's all the governments fault and so as soon as we get a labour government we'll all be in the land of milk and honey

It is within the power of the government to prevent landlords, from Monday, initiating eviction proceedings on those tenants in arrears and who cannot pay. If the government do not extend the ban then what happens will be as a result of their inaction - because many simply do not have the wherewithal to clear their rent arrears as some landlords seem to be demanding. The government has a choice. The tenants don't.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

What I'd like to happen is it seems what is most likely going to happen. I'm hoping that that is what everyone would have wanted to happen also. Those who disagree might find themselves disagreeing with the government action.

It's not the govs fault on this one but what id like to see happen is arrears caused by covid 19 covered by the gov. We have already supported people with furlough and grants so it wouldn't even make a dent in the debt really.

Those who own a house were offered payment holidays by the banks

Furlough people got wages

Those who have lost out but now can get on again would be nice to see them supported by the arrears being paid

Don't want to see people out on the streets

 

[GB72]

It's not the govs fault on this one but what id like to see happen is arrears caused by covid 19 covered by the gov. We have already supported people with furlough and grants so it wouldn't even make a dent in the debt really.

Those who own a house were offered payment holidays by the banks

Furlough people got wages

Those who have lost out but now can get on again would be nice to see them supported by the arrears being paid

Don't want to see people out on the streets

I suppose the comparison is that those with a mortgage still owe the amounts due for the mortgage holiday plus interest on that sum and so have, effectively received the same as those in the rental market. The position is pretty much the same in that home owners face the risk of repossession in the same way that renters face eviction. The only difference is that the renter is at the whim of how a private landlord wants to act whereas there is more sympathy among mainstream lenders these days.

A scheme whereby the government paid some rent and any arrears etc then became an interest free debt to the government would seem equitable. The rent is paid and any arrears etc cleared by the government are deducted at source as part of your PAYE when you are back in employment.

 

[Foxholer]

Surely a lot of the money available is used to pay for their pension funds.

Only in 'the same way' any private company that operates a pension scheme commits to contributing to it also.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

I suppose the comparison is that those with a mortgage still owe the amounts due for the mortgage holiday plus interest on that sum and so have, effectively received the same as those in the rental market. The position is pretty much the same in that home owners face the risk of repossession in the same way that renters face eviction. The only difference is that the renter is at the whim of how a private landlord wants to act whereas there is more sympathy among mainstream lenders these days.

A scheme whereby the government paid some rent and any arrears etc then became an interest free debt to the government would seem equitable. The rent is paid and any arrears etc cleared by the government are deducted at source as part of your PAYE when you are back in employment.

Very good idea.

Private landlords could take the holidays and the Tennant's were still expected to pay when really they could not charge .. as they will own the house outright eventually and the rent will cover the mortgage they don't lose out

Home owners in better place because even if they did lose their house they could sell up and then use the money to rent if it all went wrong.. renters just constantly get shafted it seems

 

[drdel]

Neither Sunak or 'Government ' have any money.

Any giveaways will add to the UK £2tn debt which is accruing interest: it is not FREE, it must be repaid via taxes.

Householders who have used the mortgage payment holiday have not had an interest holiday.

In general the UK has been pretty generous compared to many nations but economic realism must start to come into play.