​​'Class of 2021'

 

The effect that COVID-19 has had on the UK is very far-reaching. Students in particular have been hit badly by the lifestyle changes that they have been forced to make as a result of this. The biggest lifestyle change current students face is universities being ‘forced to make a rapid switch to fully online learning.’ A survey conducted by Higher Education Policy Institute in April 2020 found that due to the pandemic, ‘42% of third-year students say the crisis has changed their perception, compared to 27% of second years and only 18% of first years.’ This result means that students during the first lockdown, in particular third years, have been somewhat affected by the challenges of lockdown and online learning. Now that we are in a second lockdown, the situation for students appears to not have improved. As a result of the shift to online learning, students’ quality of education has changed. On a podcast with The Guardian’s Scotland correspondent, Libby Brooks, which was published in September 2020, it is stated that the Class of 2021 do not have ‘the elite education they had been led to expect.’ Libby Brooks singles out The University of Sunderland, explaining how they are ‘trying to create the whole university experience online, wanting to put together immersive digital campus replicas.’

 

A survey undertaken by The Sutton Trust in May 2020 found that from the first lockdown in April; ‘6% of students report that they do not have sufficient access to computers or devices required for learning and assessment. 5% report that they do not have sufficient internet access, and 23% report lack of access to suitable study space’. Limited ways of learning and lack of socialisation does not just influence students’ quality of education but also their mental health. YoungMinds, a UK organisation that strive to help young people with mental health issues, conducted a survey in summer 2020. This survey was based on young people in general, during 6th June and 5th July, when the government were making announcements to ease restrictions. They found that ‘83% of young respondents agreed that the pandemic worsened pre-existing mental health conditions, mainly due to school closures, loss of routine, and restricted social connections.’ GuildHE, an organisation that represents heads of higher education establishments, had similar concerns with mental health. When discussing the student experience in May 2020, they stated that they ‘still don’t know the longer-term implications of having been on lockdown for several months.’

 

When we look at current issues facing the Class of 2021, one of the main disputes was being able to go home for Christmas. Originally, the government stated that students may have to stay in their university accommodations. A lot of people felt like this took no account for mental health, by forcing students to be away from their families and stay in environments where they may not be comfortable. An article by the BBC published on 6 October addresses the change in government attitude towards this issue which has taken place. It states how ‘getting university students home for the Christmas holidays has become a political priority’. On the 13 November, the government released new rules stating that ‘to support all students being able to travel home in the window, face to face provision for the winter term should finish at every provider by 9 December at the latest.’ One more effect that COVID-19 has had on students is financial strain. During the first lockdown, Prospects, who are one of the UK’s biggest graduate recruitment websites, carried out a poll, finding out that ‘28% of final year university students have had their job offers rescinded or put on hold.’ The Sutton Trust also found out that ‘34% of students report that they (had) lost a job, had reduced hours, or not been paid for work completed.’ Therefore, these statistics relating to quality of education, mental health and financial strain show that students have massively been affected by COVID-19 and the lockdowns. It is important to look at it from a wide perspective and realise that it affects all different areas of their lives. I myself am a student that has been affected by COVID-19 through both lockdowns.

 

Through the first lockdown, I was a third-year completing my most important assignments. Everything being moved online meant I had to very quickly adapt to the new form of education and make sure I had a good routine so that my mental health stayed intact. Financially, I coped fine fortunately due to having a good student loan, but I know this is not the case for a lot of students who have struggled with this aspect. Currently, I am studying an MA in Journalism through blended learning; a mix of online lectures and face to face seminars. Fortunately, this allows me to have a good routine to help my mental health. I have gotten used to new ways of being taught due to my first lockdown experiences. However, this time, I find the financial strain to be the biggest burden. With shops being shut and the uncertainty that comes along with that, it is much more challenging to get a job.

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

BBC, Family & Education, Will students stay home and study online after Christmas? (London: BBC, Sean Coughlan, 2020) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-54570623

 

Dabbous, Dana, de Caires, Ann, Emms, Katherine, Laczik, Andrea, and Newton, Olly, The Impact of Covid-19 on Education: evidence on the early impacts of lockdown (London: Edge Foundation, 2020)

 

Department for Education, ‘Student movement and plans for the end of term’, Gov.UK [online] 13 November 2020 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reopening-buildings-and-campuses/student-movement-and-plans-for-the-end-of-autumn-2020-term

 

Grubic, Nicholas, Badovinac, Shaylea, and Johri, Amer M, ‘Student mental health in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic: A call for further research and immediate solutions’, SAGE Publishing, 66.5 (2020)

 

The Guardian, Today in Focus [podcast] 30 September 2020 https://open.spotify.com/episode/28qL5XvRqvWTdl3aeEaFR3