The reality behind the Tory rhetoric is that they are not interested

WE HAVE heard a lot from Nicky Morgan and her Conservative colleagues over the last few years about how they believe in equality of opportunity. Anyone, regardless of background, can achieve their dreams if they work hard enough. They also talk about encouraging “the best and brightest” young people, from all backgrounds, to aim high, to go to the top universities

My son is a great example of such a young person. He is a Loughborough lad, who went to local state schools. He worked hard and did well, earning a place at a top university to study the history and politics of the Middle East.

He believes that only with better understanding of this most complex of situations, can we work toward peace in the region and worldwide. That is his goal.

He worked very hard, with passion and dedication, and graduated with a First class Honours degree. He then applied for a Masters degree at Oxford University, specialising in the Middle East, taught by internationally renowned experts in the field.

The course is highly prestigious and extremely competitive – there are thousands of applicants from all over the world and very few places. When he was offered a place on the course, everyone celebrated his incredible achievement.

Post-graduate studies are notoriously poorly funded. There is little public funding. The student loan (a maximum of £10,000 over the 2 year course) does not even cover the tuition fees of £30,000.

Private funding is a lottery and very weighted toward subjects useful for Business. (Apparently, the world needs more accountants but not a better understanding of the Middle East.)

Very few universities have any means-tested funding for Post-graduate studies. Although there are fair access measures for undergraduates, there are none for postgraduates. In effect, this means that students from ordinary backgrounds usually hit a glass ceiling. However academically brilliant, they simply cannot afford to continue with their studies and become expert in their field.

My son applied for every bursary he could but this week found out that he had not been successful. He was devastated. He earned this incredible opportunity on merit – on academic achievement and sheer hard work. But because he does not come from a wealthy background, he does not know if he will be able to go.

Our extended family are trying to see if we can somehow make it happen. Both sets of grandparents are looking into using their lifetime’s savings.

I rang Nicky Morgan’s office to ask for her help. As our MP and the former Education Minister, I thought she would care about a local young man, who had worked so hard and done so well, being denied this opportunity because he cannot afford to pay for it.

Her office was not interested. I was told, in so many words, that is how it is and has always been.

They would not even look at the case because he is not living at home at the moment, so does not count as a constituent.

I have some questions for Nicky Morgan. Do you really believe in equality of opportunity and fair access in education? If so, what are you going to do about this situation?

Is it acceptable for a gifted young man to be denied the opportunity to study for a Master’s degree at Oxford, because he does not belong to a wealthy elite?

Do you actually care about local young people and their future or just about potential votes?

The reality behind the rhetoric we hear from the Tories at election time is very clear from the response I got from Nicky Morgan’s office. They are not interested.

Carol Ahmed, Loughborough