Archive for the ‘School & University’ category

Not before time, Home Secretary

February 19th, 2010

Much ado about Nothing!

The Home Secretary, Alan Johnson is making a big fuss about foreign students coming to the UK to allay our fears after the Detroit plane bomb attempt.

We all know that hundreds of thousands of foreigners have been streaming into our country for years on Student Visas.

So why hasn’t this gigantic loophole been quietly dealt with years ago?

The 100,000 + genuine students each year wouldn’t have been in the least offended because they had absolutely nothing to fear.

Income from Foreign Students

The £2 billion income from foreign students is a very welcome source of revenue for universities in the UK particularly when Government Grants are on the chopping board during these belt tightening times.

The 100,000 + foreign students last year also contributed to our weakened economy during their stay by renting accommodation and spending money on essentials and entertainment while around 17% purchased a vehicle.

Previous Home Secretaries

Has anyone asked Jack Straw, the first New Labour Home Secretary in 1997 why he wasn’t aware of this loophole?

Let me tell you; because both he and his successors were too busy complicating the Criminal Law System – rewriting the already adequate Law Books instead of dealing with the essentials.

Alan Johnson is rushing these new rules through because Gordon Brown promised a review after the near disaster in Detroit.

This is all they need to do QUIETLY!

  1. Simply issue Student Visas to those foreign students who wish to attend Further Education Centres in the UK that are fully registered with The Department of Education – no others.
  2. All other “Mickey Mouse” colleges applying for Registration must be fully investigated by personal visits to ensure they aren’t simply the accommodation addresses that most of them hid behind.
  3. The Metropolitan Police Authority should confirm that each prospective student lives is who they say they are, that they have no criminal convictions and aren’t known to be linked to any extremist groups.
  4. This can be simply done by contacting the relevant Police Authority where the prospective student lives.
  5. When the applicant gives an address in the UK where they plan to stay, that should also be fully checked along with anyone living there.
  6. As for them speaking English – what if they’re planning on coming here to learn English? But who is collecting them from the airport?
  7. On arrival in the UK each visiting student’s passport is confirmed as genuine, copied and filed.
  8. Each visiting Student’s where-a-bouts is confirmed every 4 months with a personal visit.
  9. Finally, no visiting student is permitted to move to another address without first informing their university’s administration department in writing and must have a written receipt in respect of this letter.

What’s so damned complicated about this and why hasn’t it been done before – particularly after 9/11?

We must be the laughing stock of the world!

Why hasn’t Mr Cameron come up with any similar suggestions?

Open Invitation to all Visiting Students or Politicians

If I’ve over simplified things, got anything wrong or omitted anything- tell me and I will publish it.

No comments »

Posted in School & University

Tags:

Will Goldie Hawn run our Schools?

February 15th, 2010

Tory meeting with Goldie Hawn

I understand the Tory Party’s Shadow Minister for Education, Michael Gove has met with the American Movie Star, Goldie Hawn to discuss her setting up her own independent state funded schools in the UK.

Ms Hawn, a dedicated Buddhist has a charity called The Hawn Foundation that runs schools in the US and Canada.

Mr Gove was obviously so taken with Ms Hawn’s presentation that another meeting has been arranged to discuss the possibility of her Foundation that promotes Buddhist values setting up a state funded school somewhere in the UK.

Mr Gove is very interested in facilitating Ms Hawn’s Foundation to influence education right here in the UK.

He did add that “Some parents want a rigorous traditional academic education for their children with desks neatly marshalled and traditional football while others will want something that is more flexible and imaginative.”

Is this guy nuts?

The Tories promised not to reduce the current education budget if they won the next general election.

They also announced that they would redesign part of our education system to improve it immensely.

Is this what they mean by redesign?

What exactly is being cooked up in Mr Gove’s office besides Buddhist schools?

Don’t they consider we have enough religious strife in the UK without adding to it by introducing another religion oriented school?

BREAKING NEWS – BREAKING NEWS – BREAKING NEWS

COMING DIRECTLY FROM MY FULL SIZED CRYSTAL BALL!!!!!!!!!!

The next Tory Education Recommendation

I’m passing this on to you in total confidence:

My crystal ball is shaking with anticipation with it’s latest forecast insight into Mr Gove’s follow up plans to redesign our education system next week.

As I’m gazing into my crystal ball I can see Mr Gove sitting with his all male team of close advisors in his inner sanctum apparently dribbling from both corners of his mouth:

They’ve just concluded a marathon 7 minute discussion to finalise their next election busting triumph to encourage more girls to participate in further education and at the same time promote serious vocational training:

YES, IT’S A UNANIMOUS VOTE, MR GOVE IS ENTHUSIASTICLY HOLDING BOTH HANDS ABOVE HIS HEAD

The motion of incorporating a new Pole Dancing Department in every school in the UK has been unanimously carried and he’s now telephoning Mr Cameron with the good news!

No comments »

Posted in School & University

Tags:

University equals Debt

January 31st, 2010

Promote Student Debt – go to University

It’s a well known fact that over 95% of Graduates, when they bid farewell to university owe at least £15K of what is popularly known as Student Debt.

I never went to university because I could earn a lot more by avoiding another 3 years at adult school.

I do, however feel a little sorry for students now-a-days who, when they begin their academic life fully expect to finish their course complete with a millstone of student debt – and equally sorry for their long suffering parents who are expected to help with additional finance.

When I was letting properties I had two students in separate houses each of whom, in turn sub-let rooms to fellow students. When both houses were eventually vacated they were spotless and undamaged.

I put this down to the fact that both parents had originally paid the deposit along with the first months rent and couldn’t afford to loose a penny of the deposit.

The UK – except Scotland discriminates against students

One problem I do have is the fact that there aren’t any university fees in Scotland if your parents are domicile there which means when you graduate you are completely free of student debt.

If the SNP can afford to offer free education amongst other things, why can’t the rest of the UK, or is the rest of the UK subsidising this?

I’ve honestly never researched this and would appreciate some input on this one.

Is university life really as great as we’re led to believe? Is it a lonely place if like the young woman I spoke to at school you’re shy and introverted?

I remember when a friend’s son was at university, he and his wife used to regularly do a round trip with a food parcel every month. Is this a regular occurrence for parents?

My friend shelled out almost £25K over a three year period to ensure his son wouldn’t inherit a student debt.

Where do all the Graduates go?

Look, I know that great qualifications often attract great jobs, but having only had one employer in my lifetime for a very short period, I’ve done okay without university.

Is every Graduate finding employment within 3 months of graduating?

Are there many unemployed Graduates around?

I’m a bit suspect of new Graduates because you’ve gone to school, had a short break then attended a grown up school, graduated then started work.

You don’t really at 23 or 24 have any life experience outside academia, do you?

It is however in your interests to work like hell for the first four or five years to clear your student debt.

Is this a Political ruse to acclimatise Graduates to this Government’s newest lifestyle called citizens’ debt for the next 20 years?

6 comments »

Posted in School & University

Tags:

Why are Schools failing our Future Adults?

January 31st, 2010

Why are Schools failing our Future Adults?

Schools are failing our future adults. They could a much more honest and enjoyable environment if teachers immediately advised each class that they could only expect to learn 5% of their knowledge at school.

I recently spoke to 17 young students of mixed culture and varied backgrounds between the ages of 14 and 16 and was quite alarmed at a number of comments that were made:

One 14 year old girl had successfully made numerous friends at school but found it impossible to continue these friendships after school because of her ethnicity because her parents disapproved of her school friends and the manner in which they dressed out of school.

She was deeply concerned how she would cope when she went to university because her existing social life was entirely confined to family and friends of her own culture.

Fourteen out of the 17 were in favour of the school having a Music Night once each month – their choice of music of course.

Yes, I do believe that schools are failing our future adults.

No Freedom of Speech

A number complained that their freedom of speech was permanently curtailed at school because they were made to adhere to the opinions of a number of their teachers – So much for the broadening of their horizons at school.

Although there was a debating society, subjects for debate were chosen by 1 teacher who then nominated Speakers for and against the motion.

Unsurprisingly it was not well attended.

No Career advice

Two fifteen year olds, both young men, weren’t planning to go to university. They wanted to start work as apprentices when they were able to leave school so again unsurprisingly weren’t particularly interested in specific subjects they were obliged to occupy their time with.

They hadn’t received any career advice and were obliged to search for future job opportunities after school hours. I thought this was contrary to what Government Ministers were telling the public.

Their parents had also advised them to wait until they left school to start doing something about their future. I found it difficult to keep my big mouth shut!

I repeat – schools are failing our future adults.

No Life Style advice

Not one of the 17 young people had a teacher in whom they had sufficient confidence to approach for advice on a variety of subjects because they either weren’t sufficiently interested or were too concerned for their own job security if any advice given was disapproved of by parents.

If this was modern day education no wonder so many teenagers feel isolated often turning to the wrong person for advice or if that person has their own agenda, the wrong advice.

Are you surprised I’m 100% convinced that schools are failing our future adults?

Please talk to me about this if you’ve been or are in this situation.

If you’re a parent or a teacher, I’d appreciate your input.

No comments »

Posted in School & University

Tags:

Better Tag Cloud