Another Barmy Tory Idea.

[BayBoy1]

David Willetts mp,has just qualified at the Tory Dream Factory, he wants to send anyone who is over sixty and unemployed to university,to make them more employable. I have a better idea, send all young unemployed yobs who hang around all day drinking council lager,to university to make them more employable???

[Canary42]

What an ass. Degrees count for nothing after you're sixty (and not a lot before that) in today's exceedingly ageist working society.

[factor-fiction]

Your post suggests some sort of forced study for unemployed people over 60. I understood he was just encouraging them to consider returning to education. Some older people have really benefited form it but I think the vast majority assume it's aimed solely to 18-21 year olds.

[factor-fiction]

'What an ass' is a bit harsh I think, canary42. Getting a degree at age 60 is very unlikely to help your career prospects significantly but surely people can still enjoy learning and benefit in some way. Many of the 60 year olds are probably far brighter and more willing to learn than some of the students who go at age 18

[Baldric]

This story?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/9884301/Over-60s-are-told-go-back-to-university-and-retrain.html

[VHG]

>>>Another Barmy Tory Idea

Yes, almost as daft as Labour's idea of opening the doors to any and every immigrant that wants to come here (which they actually put in place).

We now have hundreds of thousands of people here who have no skills, cant speak English, and are happy to live on benefits or turn to crime.

We also have 2.5 million unemployed, so we hardly needed these people to fill jobs did we.

Well done Labour.

[Canary42]

VHG:-
Diversionary tactics seems the only Tory defence these days. Yes, Labour made mistakes, but we're talking about the present Government here, and the number of mistakes they make.

factor-fiction :-
Yes, I agree, I got my third degree close to my sixtieth birthday.

[FredPuli43]

Gosh! I could be on University Challenge: "Hello, I'm Fred Puli, drunken and Magdalen, reading pornography".

Or I could go back to college and discover what they were trying to teach me the first time. Can't see what possible benefit or advantage emerging at 69, in my case, or 63 in others, with a new degree would be in the workplace.

[Baldric]

It would keep us off the streets Fred!

[sir.prize]

Ah this is the same David Willetts, CONservative MP for Havant, who has the nickname "Two Brains". Seems they have both deserted him.

[FredPuli43]

Only if you count nearly causing accidents by reckless cycling; the regular occupation of students here between being in the undergraduate bar and the odd lecture and tutorial; as being "off the streets", on a purely literal interpretation of "off", Baldric !

Must see what B & Q have. I'm sure I can forget where everything is, or forget what the question was, at work; I do it at home, unpaid, as it is.

[factor-fiction]

Okay, I've read the article. Encouraging more older people to go too university by raising the cap for funding from age 54 to 60+ then that is a good thing in itself as the present policy has been 'ageist'. Most older people would never have to repay their loans so it could be attractive to some. But I don't see it as much of a help in dealing with the issue of retirement ages being put back and I think the government should place less emphasis on this as it gives ammunition to critics who may imply there may be some compulsion (which i'm sure there won't).

[Prudie]

Actually I think it's quite a good idea if only because it gives the over 60s the chance to go to University and achieve something they never could because in their day you had to be particularly bright and capable to get in unlike now when anyone can go.

[factor-fiction]

(Can't believe how many typos in my last post).
I agree with prudie, but I think the government sometimes puts a banana skin down for itself by linking it to things like unemployment for over 60s or raising of the pension age since critics will pick up on that issue and use it to decry a good idea

[Sqad]

Ridiculous idea.

Which University would give a valuable place to a 60 year old rather than a teenager?

To which University would one apply..University of St Dunstan's ?

[BayBoy1]

FRED 43 your replies are so funny ,cant stop laughing, well put together. cheers.

[factor-fiction]

>Which University would give a valuable place to a 60 year old rather than a teenager?

Why would the university worry about that, sqad- the person's ability to complete the next three years of the course should be the main criterion for the university shouldn't it?

[Sqad]

Ff........I suppose so.....;-)

[ChillDoubt]

Yeah, be funny seeing students completely off their t*ts on pipe tobacco and Werther's instead of weed and strong lager!

[Prudie]

Apart from the prestigious few I don't think Universities care who they give their places to as long as they get their fees. Just think Sqad, as a hospital porter you could now go and get some real qualifiactions :-))

[cazzz1975]

what 60 year old would want to saddle themselves with significant debt in order to have a slightly better chance at getting a job?