Student Finance - Age restriction. 'Inactive' 50- and 60-year-olds UK
Friday, 14 Oct 2022, 14:47
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Why is it UK student finance will not fund people over 60 through maintenance grants to attain their degree PHD or Masters?
It appears that the government have now realised how valuable people in their 50's and 60's are to the work force. But when it comes to funding, there is an outdated funding restriction for those 60 and over, which prevents them attaining higher educational qualifications unless they are privileged enough to have personal sufficient funds.
The people that apply for funding to study in their 60's may have had many societal and economic barriers to overcome which, some of today's society may have chosen to ignore, thus discriminating and stereotyping a group of the workforce.
Within the context of the past, people with dyslexia and other neurodivergent issues along with physical disabilities were not afforded the same privileges such as being diagnosed or being granted any assistance at school. As such they were written off and stigmatised through societal divisions and perceptions.
Note :I recognise that this is still a huge barrier today and that the budget for educational needs is always the first to be cut.
Most People in their 50 and 60's have been working since there were sixteen (not eighteen) and paying their National Insurance contributions since they were sixteen. Work experience was also different, not so much health and safety but what was said on the tin, 'work experience'.
The class system - School-leavers dependant on Comprehensive, Secondary mainly went straight into work and onto to Youth Opportunities Schemes, going to college being the exception if affordable to your family. The main way into college from the Comprehensive or the Secondary school pupil was through the route of apprenticeships. Pupils from Grammer schools were expected to do better to attain the grades to attend college and university and the academic route.
For people who worked on the ground floor the routes to climbing the ladder were less privileged but what they did have was the life experiences within the workplace, however when it came to promotion you may of had the skills but if you did not have the qualifications, you were stumped. There was no 'fast track' and so many talented people were overlooked.
Some were luckily enough to be sponsored through work, to attain their qualifications but this was open to a very small minority.
During the pandemic, many people in there 50's and 60's were made redundant, (along with the last in) and some were given the opportunity to retire.
Many people have decided that they have had enough of the stress and anxiety of being treated like cannon fodder by companies and government including those in their 50 's and 60's, some wanted to take time out to reflect and decided what path is open to them while looking after and caring for families and propping up the voluntary sector.
The government now appear to view those in their 50's and 60's as ' economically inactive'! (ons.gov.uk) What hope do we have if the government have no regard or respect for people of a certain age?
What is the message they are portraying to up and coming generations?
In my opinion, this is how societal divisions are formed. What is conjured in your mind when the term 'Inactive' is used?
There are people who wish to still work in there 50's and 60's, however the workplace has not stood still and neither do we. Most people in their 50's and 60's are realistic as to what they can and can't do due to aging process, hence the adaptation of some to studying for a degree, Masters or PHD, so they are equipped to return to the workforce.
Unfortunately, this is where people in there 60's are penalized. Most people do not have huge pots of money to fund their studying. Many people were deprived of some or all of their private work pensions through mismanagement of funds along with others that are under the pension age.
Student finance will not assist funding the living costs over 60's to attain their qualifications and therefore are penalising and excluding a part of the workforce.
Are those in their 50's and 60's, only there to be valued as cannon fodder within the workforce or should they be valued and given the chance to attain funding after their 60's to be able to contribute to society.
Student Finance - Age restriction. 'Inactive' 50- and 60-year-olds UK
Why is it UK student finance will not fund people over 60 through maintenance grants to attain their degree PHD or Masters?
It appears that the government have now realised how valuable people in their 50's and 60's are to the work force. But when it comes to funding, there is an outdated funding restriction for those 60 and over, which prevents them attaining higher educational qualifications unless they are privileged enough to have personal sufficient funds.
The people that apply for funding to study in their 60's may have had many societal and economic barriers to overcome which, some of today's society may have chosen to ignore, thus discriminating and stereotyping a group of the workforce.
Within the context of the past, people with dyslexia and other neurodivergent issues along with physical disabilities were not afforded the same privileges such as being diagnosed or being granted any assistance at school. As such they were written off and stigmatised through societal divisions and perceptions.
Note :I recognise that this is still a huge barrier today and that the budget for educational needs is always the first to be cut.
Most People in their 50 and 60's have been working since there were sixteen (not eighteen) and paying their National Insurance contributions since they were sixteen. Work experience was also different, not so much health and safety but what was said on the tin, 'work experience'.
The class system - School-leavers dependant on Comprehensive, Secondary mainly went straight into work and onto to Youth Opportunities Schemes, going to college being the exception if affordable to your family. The main way into college from the Comprehensive or the Secondary school pupil was through the route of apprenticeships. Pupils from Grammer schools were expected to do better to attain the grades to attend college and university and the academic route.
For people who worked on the ground floor the routes to climbing the ladder were less privileged but what they did have was the life experiences within the workplace, however when it came to promotion you may of had the skills but if you did not have the qualifications, you were stumped. There was no 'fast track' and so many talented people were overlooked.
Some were luckily enough to be sponsored through work, to attain their qualifications but this was open to a very small minority.
During the pandemic, many people in there 50's and 60's were made redundant, (along with the last in) and some were given the opportunity to retire.
Many people have decided that they have had enough of the stress and anxiety of being treated like cannon fodder by companies and government including those in their 50 's and 60's, some wanted to take time out to reflect and decided what path is open to them while looking after and caring for families and propping up the voluntary sector.
The government now appear to view those in their 50's and 60's as ' economically inactive'! (ons.gov.uk) What hope do we have if the government have no regard or respect for people of a certain age?
What is the message they are portraying to up and coming generations?
In my opinion, this is how societal divisions are formed. What is conjured in your mind when the term 'Inactive' is used?
There are people who wish to still work in there 50's and 60's, however the workplace has not stood still and neither do we. Most people in their 50's and 60's are realistic as to what they can and can't do due to aging process, hence the adaptation of some to studying for a degree, Masters or PHD, so they are equipped to return to the workforce.
Unfortunately, this is where people in there 60's are penalized. Most people do not have huge pots of money to fund their studying. Many people were deprived of some or all of their private work pensions through mismanagement of funds along with others that are under the pension age.
Student finance will not assist funding the living costs over 60's to attain their qualifications and therefore are penalising and excluding a part of the workforce.
Are those in their 50's and 60's, only there to be valued as cannon fodder within the workforce or should they be valued and given the chance to attain funding after their 60's to be able to contribute to society.
Sheerness Steel, Pensions? What pensions? Legal battle with steel firm | libcom.org
Maxwell Pensions Archive Trust - Maxwell Scandal
BHS Sir Philip sold BHS to dodge pension cost, says regulator - BBC News
Early insights from the Over 50s Lifestyle Study, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk)Note; what questions were asked?
Were the historical contexts and insights to education and past societal issues taken into account when devising the survey?