A recent study conducted by student support service, Studiosity, and Red Brick Research looked into the effect of the pandemic on the lives of college and university students. One of the most shocking findings of the survey revealed that nearly 40 percent of students seriously considered dropping out of their studies during the coronavirus pandemic.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, more than 80 percent of students polled in the survey reported that the pandemic had a negative impact on their studies. Polled students reported that factors such as decreased access to campus facilities, and face-to-face contact with lecturers and peers while others expressed a general dislike of online learning.
15 percent of students surveyed “strongly” agreed with a statement saying that they had “seriously considered” quitting their university studies while 25 percent said they’d “tend to agree.” Red Brick responded that such high levels of desire amongst students inclined towards dropping out was worrying and significantly higher than the research firm is used to seeing.
In an interview conducted with The Independent Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, the National Union of Students’ vice president for higher education, had this to say: “It is heartbreaking that such a high proportion of students have considered leaving education this year, but with the enormous challenges they’ve faced it is unsurprising.”
As a result of the rapidly changing and adapting landscape of higher education in these troubling times, students’ university experience has completely changed, with many of their courses completed entirely online along with restrictions having been imposed on athletics, extracurriculars, and socialization.
Gyebi-Ababio added: “The barriers posed by remote learning and digital poverty, constantly changing guidance and the extreme financial pressures that students have been forced to endure must be recognized by the government along with a commitment to support students to stay in education.”
As students enter their third term since the initial lockdowns of the coronavirus pandemic in Spring 2020, some are still waiting to be allowed back onto their campuses . While some Spring 2021 courses were allowed to recommence in-person learning, a full return to face-to-face learning is still uncertain.
According to Red Brick’s survey, which was taken shortly after most UK colleges and universities were pushed online, found that ⅔ of respondents had considered dropping out to the point of discussing the matter seriously with friends, family, and even university faculty.
This week, as England’s lockdown restrictions eased further, Gyebi-Ababio called for “clarity” in future plans for adult education, suggesting that students “deserved better” than a Summer break filled with uncertainty regarding their return to campus in the Autumn.
Regardless of Gyebi-Ababio’s call for clarity, the government has yet to release any official statement as to when all students will be able to return to on-campus learning.
From 8 March, students with practical modules, such as medicine and dentistry, were allowed to return to partial on-campus learning. Meanwhile others are still not allowed to do so. Despite the slow re-opening of the UK as pandemic restrictions ease, online learning does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
In response to the slow re-opening of the UK and to the general unhappiness of adult students, the government has said that it will review the current restrictions facing the reopening of college campuses by the end of the Easter holidays.
While Red Bricks’ survey suggested that 40% of students had considered dropping out, universities are thankful to have retained the majority of their student bodies despite the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. However, Universities UK, which represents over 140 educational institutions, warns the government that the “resilience” of UK students should not be taken for granted. Instead UUK are calling for a full return to on-campus learning following the 12 April ease of lockdown restrictions.
Conversely, University and College Union (UCU) argues that the decision to keep learning virtual until the start of the new academic year is a step in the right direction to avoid any COVID flare-ups on campuses across the country.
While both UUK and UCU have valid points regarding the well-being of students and universities across the UK, the final decision lies in the hands of the government.
According to the Department for Education, the government is committed to getting students back to campus as soon as the public health situation allows it.
