There are many different factors influencing a student’s study pattern and this can make entering their children in to childcare near-on impossible — and where it is possible it can be very expensive. However, it cannot be denied that some parents are put off returning to education because of the challenges they face with childcare. An improved education is as much for the child’s future as it is the parent who wishes to study and these challenges should not be a barrier to that cause.
Parent students often find themselves having to be flexible with their study times; something that is not easy when combined with the responsibility of being a parent. Universities need to be better at dealing with and supporting Parent Students. NUS has recently conducted a Parent Student Report concluding that universities could make education more accessible to Parent Students by improving interdepartmental communication between finance, administration, local authorities and the faculty.
Parent Students are put at an unfair disadvantage to other students when inadequate childcare provisions are supplied and when there is poor communications between departments. Parent Students have been under represented for far too long, this must end now. We need to begin lobbying the University of Derby for better provisions for Parent Students today and we must contribute to the NUS Parent Student Campaign and make our voices heard. If you are interested in joining the Parent Student Campaign please contact Lu Samson.
Stories from Parent Students studying at the University of Derby coming soon.
(image source: Flickr by Sandover)
Its appalling that even in this day and age and after all these years, that women in work are NOT treated equally. Many times women are asked to perform duties on an equal footing with men and probably have far more to lose. Most women these days have children, a home to look after and hold down a job. Why then are men paid far more for doing far less? Children in High Schools are encouraged to participate in activities once thought of as gender related; Im cetain that those same expectations of equality will follow once they are at work. What a shame that the girls will be sorely dissapointed and find that given opportunities to work in a mans world, they will not recieve the same recogntion and pay as men.
Hi – hope you had a good debate. How did it go and what was the result?