To ask you to sign this to get marooned students back to uni now, rather than at the end of the summer term

[Hondajazzhands]

petition.parliament.uk/petitions/582345

The majority of students have been able to go back to uni as they are in private accommodation so although they are studying online have at least had the company of others in their household. Others returned to do practical subjects in March.

The government promised they would announce before the Easter holidays ended when the remaining students could return but failed to do so.

Now they are briefing that it will not allow them to go back until May 17th when there will be about 4 weeks left of term.

They are apparently delaying to avoid a repeat of the surge in Covid infections when the autumn term began.

But that is completely ignoring the fact that some 75% of students are already back, according to a recent survey by the Office for National Statistics - the number returning when the ban is lifted will be a small proportion of those going in September/October.

Also, the bulge in the autumn reflected not just students but also all those returning from summer holidays abroad.

And the situation with Covid is far healthier now, government advisors themselves have said that there is unlikely to be a third wave, at least until the autumn.

So we need to allow those students who have been forced to study alone in their family homes to return straight away rather than impose a meaningless delay.

They have lost so much already from a time in their lives that can never be repeated. They are facing such gloomy prospects on all fronts, and have uncomplainingly endured months of isolation.

Please sign the petition and share it with others

Sorry, didn't mean to enable voting.

Hey there OP, just letting you know we're going to move this one over to petitions.

Going by the students at Exeter University they haven't endured any isolation

The huge rise in infection levels around university areas when they went back in September and Oct.... that was a big mistake

However, rates are very low and huge number vaccinated now so time to return to normal.

It's a balance, isn't it. It just seems that they are failing to acknowledge the numbers of students moving back for the new term would be nothing like the numbers in September.
And in the meantime, those poor kids stuck at home really are in isolation, with a university experience devoid of everything except solo studying and awkward Zoom calls.

It must be tough @Hondajazzhands

Do you have a child in this position? If so I hope things work out soon

Thanks, @GiveMeTulipsfromAmsterdam.

Yes, a second year student.

He started in September 2019 and had two normal terms until the beginning of March last year, no job or holiday in the summer as none available, a term in the Autumn spent entirely within the confines of his university flat but at least with people his own age, then in his bedroom since the first week of December last year.

Now hopes of getting back for a decent summer term fading fast and in the Autumn he needs to start applying for jobs as he will be in his final year.

So sad for him. These should have been such special years.

Signed 👍🏻