Gorst backs UK-style uni loans for Jersey students

Wednesday 28 January 2015

Giving Jersey students loans to pay the rising cost of going to university is being backed by the Island's top politician, after he told a public meeting that something had to be done to help struggling local students.

Chief Minister Ian Gorst has called for more support for families currently wondering whether they can afford to send their children away to study. Speaking at the first "Any Questions" event, organised by the political campaign group, Change.je, he said that he had heard many stories from parents who were either struggling to cope with education costs, or just not sure if they would be able to foot the bills.

He didn't go into detail as to what a Jersey student loans scheme might look like, but he did firmly support bringing it in: "We are going to have to, I believe, bring in some sort of loan scheme that mirrors what we do in the UK, and Deputy Judy Martin is right, that will leave students in some debt, but the quantum of that debt, I suppose, will depend on what interest and how we end up managing it.

"As I sit here, it seems to me that a mirroring of that UK system would be the most suitable solution."

Currently tuition fees alone for students at University in the UK can be in the region of £9,000 a year, with all living costs coming on top of that. Senator Gorst accepted that a loan scheme could mean students starting their careers in debt, but argued that was preferable to their families wondering if they could afford to go away to study at all. 

He also accepted that there was a need to consider whether judges and Jurats should continue to play a role in things that had nothing to do with the legal system, such as licensing applications.

Former Senator Ben Shenton, who is currently Chairman of the CI Co-op, said that Ministers should call on Community Savings to fund the Uni loan scheme, and it could be up and running very quickly. The former Co-op Chief Executive, Allan Smith MBE, is now the Chairman of the Board of Trustees overseeing Community Savings, and the current Chief Executive, Colin Macleod sits on the Board of Directors. 

The issue was raised at the Change Jersey event in St Brelade's Parish Hall last night, in front of about sixty people. It was a lively evening with questions ranging from parking in St Helier, the possibility of a new health tax, the development of the new finance centre on the Esplanade and the state of the Island's roads. 

The event was chaired by Bailiwick Express News Editor, Ben Queree, and the panel included Chief Minister Ian Gorst, campaigner Vicky Boarder, Ben Shenton, Deputy Judy Martin and Constable Steve Pallett.