AIBU to think social mobility for working class children is now impossible?

[frozenlakes]

When I was growing up even people from the most deprived backgrounds could still better themselves despite their limitations.

Except the concept of "working your way up the ladder" just doesn't seem to exist anymore?

Every career route now seems to require at least a degree. I remember the time when there was little to no emphasis on qualifications or degrees, unless you wanted to be a doctor or lawyer.
Dead-end administration jobs are being disguised as "entry level" positions and yet still require at least 5 GCSES and A levels.
It seems like if you don't have a degree you're stuck in low paid jobs with little opportunity for progression.

But then there's so much emphasis on Russell Group unis, which are statistically even more unrealistic for disadvantaged kids to get in to.

When it comes to owning property even young people from good socio-economic backgrounds will never get on the housing ladder, but at least they will most likely inherit a property. Working class kids wont.

I come from a "deprived" background - grew up on a council estate, left school at 16 with no qualifications, etc. But by the time I was 23 I'd "worked my way up" to a decent, well paid job (which now you'd need a degree for!) and had a mortgage. It scares me to think how different things would be for me if I was growing up in this day and age.

@MsPincher - we may well be funding them if people are not able to repay loans. Education for it’s own sake is ok, but compared to other priorities is it a good allocation of funds? Furthermore, is it beneficial for individuals (particularly if families are not supportive- with money or accommodation?) - probably some degrees are more beneficial than others.

It’s a bit of both really on the funding of degrees. The student pays back their debt. With the new repayment rules coming into effect with 2023 freshers, the majority will repay all their tuition costs and a good number will pay it back plus interest. However the interest on student loans is so high, that when the debt is written off, we (the taxpayer) often end up paying the original cost of the fees all over again only it’s 30yrs after the education happened. So tuition fees are double funded due to a high interest, low repayment, long loan term privatised for profit system.

It’s basically an intergenerational wealth robbery by the old from the young. Prior to student loans the older generation paid the tuition fees of the younger generations through taxation- gave back to society what they had received. But our lovely baby boomer politicians decided that while they were happy to have their degrees paid for by their elders, they didn’t want to do their share and pay the for Gen X and Millenials after them. So the Baby Boomer politicians invented the student loan system where they pay nothing to educate Gen X and the Millenials. Gen X and the Millenials pay for themselves AND because it now costs twice as much as the old system, Gen Z will now also being paying for Gen X plus Millienials when the debts are cleared 30yrs after Gen X and Millenials graduated. In addition, Gen Z will also be paying for themselves too. So Baby Boomer politicians have effectively robbed Gen Z, their own grandchildren.

Like taking sweets from a baby.