LONDON (UK) – For thousands of new students in British universities, their first weeks have been very much similar to their final weeks of school as they were characterised by lockdowns, isolation and staring at a screen.
Over the past few weeks, the pandemic has hit almost 50 universities, forcing students to go into self-isolation in their residence soon after arrival.
Unions blamed ministers for failing to plan for a surge in the number of infections as students congregate in halls, lectures and seminars.
The worst hit is Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU) with as many as 1,700 students under self-isolation.
‘Freshers’, who are first-year students, undergoing self-isolation in shared university flats posted messages on windows saying “Send beer” and “9K well spent”, which refers to the annual fees of 9,250 pounds ($11,900).
MMU student union president Evelyn Sweeney said freshers were worried about the pandemic and whether they would be able to go home for Christmas.
“When you’ve just come to university for the first time, probably in a new city that you don’t know, it’s a scary situation,” Sweeney said, adding that the university is providing food and toiletries as well as emotional support.
The union has given students a two-week rent rebate and a voucher for groceries worth 50 pounds.
“I feel that they’ve been thrown in the deep end, and students know that,” she said.
Meanwhile, Education Minister Gavin Williamson said this week that colleges were “very well prepared” to handle the pandemic crisis.
The minister said testing was being bolstered and varsities were ensuring that those undergoing self-isolation were properly cared for with access to food, medicines and toiletries.
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), representing more than 120,000 lecturers and other staff, said outbreaks were reported in 49 universities.
“This was completely predictable,” Grady said, flaying the government for allowing face-to-face teaching in classrooms while exhorting the rest of the population to work from home if possible.
“We are calling for default online learning where possible. We think that needs to be in place at least until Christmas.”