David Lammy, the universities minister, has called for Labour’s election manifesto to feature a plan for hiking loan repayments by former students to fund a national civic service organisation.The extra charge could amount to more than £600 a year for students with current average debts of £25,000.
Not only that, but students would be forced to complete community service as part of their course.
NUS President Wes Streeting said:
Astonishingly, David Lammy has consistently refused to give his position on whether top up fees should rise because he doesn’t want to 'pre-empt the forthcoming review' – yet he sees fit to pre-empt the review in order to back these barmy proposals.
It is outrageous for David Lammy to back these proposals, which would essentially force students to pay to be punished. Voluntary community service of all kinds is a tremendous and socially valuable thing for students and graduates to do, but compulsory community service is a criminal penalty.
Under the Demos plan, published today, all young people would have to carry out civic service such as helping in a school, working on local environmental projects or serving as a police community support officer.
Unemployed 18-24 year-olds could continue to claim benefits while working in the scheme and university students would be required to carry out 100 hours as part of their courses.
Young people not attending university but taking part in the scheme would be entitled to grants and loans similar to those offered to students.
The cost would be covered by introducing a 2.5% real interest rate on student loan repayments, compared with the zero that is currently charged. This could mean extra payments of more than £600 a year by students with debts of £25,000 and would generate £1.32 billion a year, according to the researchers.
David Lammy, What Were You Thinking?
JR
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