Student: ‘Reimburse part of fees due to effects of Covid’
A UNIVERSITY student from Derby says not enough attention is being paid to the anxiety students are going through amid the Covid pandemic.
Kiran Singh, 19, studying sociology at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), says she feels relieved she has stayed at her home in Derby, but with the crisis impacting the overall university experience, argues students should get part of their fees reimbursed.
Kiran’s call came as the British Safety Council said universities such as those in Nottingham where Covid cases are present should release students from their accommodation and return home to study remotely.
Kiran said: “I feel a lot safer living in Derby at the moment and I’m quite glad I didn’t move out. I do not think enough effort has been paid to the anxiety of students at the moment.
“I’ve got quite a few friends in the city who are having to isolate and are struggling with their anxiety right now. People are suffering and paying to live out when they have next to no face-to-face teaching. The students should have some of the money we are spending given back.“
In the seven days to October 11, Nottingham, which is in Tier Two of the Covid restrictions, saw the number of cases rise to 922.2 per 100,000 compared to 609.8 in the previous week. While an exact number has not been provided for NTU, active coronavirus cases at the University of Nottingham peaked at a total of 1,530 on October 9.
A NTU spokesperson said: “The university is undertaking a mix of on-campus teaching and online learning, as the Government has encouraged universities to do. ”
The Department for Education said: “We understand this has been a very difficult time for students and so it is crucial for their wellbeing and education to be able to go to university and carry on with their lives, which is why we have supported universities to provide a blend of online and in-person learning in a Covid-secure way this term.”