Coronavirus Thread (Off Topic, Politics) (181 Viewers)

Grendel

Well-Known Member

The source is someone I know who works in admissions. They operate the 135 rule. It’s a real concern that the grades required for admission are awarded - what then? It’s also a massive concern that many universities need overseas students or they face bankruptcy - so first choices see a situation where all uk students are offered the grades - then it’s oversubscribed by an enormous amount and the second choice preference is ignored and starts begging for places. It’s a nightmare for them
 

Brighton Sky Blue

Well-Known Member
Sounds like a good compromise they’ve announced though, moderated estimated grades for now and the option to take the exam after the pandemic as well if they aren’t happy. Couldn’t ask for more IMO. I might even keep my second job, depending on how the external moderation works.

I agree but a lot of my students said they would feel they hadn’t earned the grades and wanted to get them properly. I don’t begrudge them that tbh
 

steve cooper

Well-Known Member
You really are an angry man. I would advise you to use this lock down to reflect on where you are heading. Seriously concerned for you David!
On your point regarding the 80% of salary I would suggest that with traveling expenses and coffees etc...people won't be far off their salaries and to be fair to our citizens there will be less opportunity to spend money anyway.
It's a bold move in my opinion by a government that is navigating itself through a mine field.
Rather than posturing about today, it will be more prudent to wait and reflect on what history will say about this situation.
Don't forget the extra 20% would be subject to tax & NI
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
The source is someone I know who works in admissions. They operate the 135 rule. It’s a real concern that the grades required for admission are awarded - what then? It’s also a massive concern that many universities need overseas students or they face bankruptcy - so first choices see a situation where all uk students are offered the grades - then it’s oversubscribed by an enormous amount and the second choice preference is ignored and starts begging for places. It’s a nightmare for them

Interesting. I do think international students will drop with lots of worrying side effects (hello Coventry city center). I wonder if some unis will insist students take up the exam option?

I agree but a lot of my students said they would feel they hadn’t earned the grades and wanted to get them properly. I don’t begrudge them that tbh

Then they can take the exam. Best of both worlds. I honestly think under the circumstances this is the best we could’ve hoped for. Some kids are about to get maybe six months of exam prep with no socialising if they want it, with a wealth of educational resources and teachers with free time suddenly appearing. I wouldn’t be so down.
 

ccfc1234

Well-Known Member
You realise Boris is a liberal, right?

I’m not moaning, I think for the issue of keeping on workers it’s a good effort. Now for self employed/zero hours staff.
Your seem a educated man, out of interest how long do you think the government could sustain this situation?

What is going to cause some unrest is the number of undocumented workers we have in the UK. They often work in kitchens and other low paid work that will disappear, who is going to pay for them?
 

David O'Day

Well-Known Member
Your seem a educated man, out of interest how long do you think the government could sustain this situation?

What is going to cause some unrest is the number of undocumented workers we have in the UK. They often work in kitchens and other low paid work that will disappear, who is going to pay for them?
The government could look at some kind of universal income which could be paid and then spent in the uk economy. They need to help zero hours contract workers and the self employed more than allowing them ssp. They also need a rent holiday to go with the mortgage holiday.
 

Johhny Blue

Well-Known Member
The government could look at some kind of universal income which could be paid and then spent in the uk economy. They need to help zero hours contract workers and the self employed more than allowing them ssp. They also need a rent holiday to go with the mortgage holiday.
Are you Carl Marx?
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Your seem a educated man, out of interest how long do you think the government could sustain this situation?

What is going to cause some unrest is the number of undocumented workers we have in the UK. They often work in kitchens and other low paid work that will disappear, who is going to pay for them?

There’s two questions I guess: economically I’d guess they can continue it indefinitely. The biggest blocker on the economy would be the uncertainty. Let’s say we knew it was going to be three months: sound, let the government run up the debt to get everyone through intact. If it’s ten years: sound, let the economy readjust so bar men become delivery drivers and so on. As it is people don’t know whether to permanently shift resources to optimise to the new situation. Id be surprised if it took years to sort a test for immunity (which is when we can start allowing people permanently out of lockdown and will come before a vaccine) so I expect the government to be able to see us through should the will be there.

Which brings me to the second question: how long can they sustain it politically? That’s a tough one. Extreme measures? Probably not more than a month or so at a time I reckon. Moderate measures a bit longer if people see the need. Again it’s uncertainty that’ll be the killer. People want to know so they can set expectations and it could be god forbid the death toll is high and the public back whatever it takes, could be we manage it so well people ask what’s the point?

Many many people are going to fall through the cracks here but there will be opportunities for work in shadier areas like haulage and delivery restaurants and warehouses. It’s why I’d like to see something more of a final social safety net to catch them and all the others whose situations don’t fit neatly into the traditional employment roles.
 

BackRoomRummermill

Well-Known Member
To put it into perspective this is a war we are up against , as such not a military one which makes it much worse as it’s hard to know what the enemy will do next . It’s all in the blind. I cannot fault or want to fault what the UKGOV are doing , most of the decisions being made are against long standing plans and I mean long standing plans against this type of outbreak . Most of it out of BoJo hands , the establishment run the show irrespective of party in power. The only exception is the fiscal part where I cannot critique the UKGOV for what they are doing and they are up against many many internet warriors who think they know better , instead of wasting their time and sapping the life out of people moaning they should try to get on board and realise how difficulties all is . God bless the NHS and all who sail in her .
 

Skybluefaz

Well-Known Member
To put it into perspective this is a war we are up against , as such not a military one which makes it much worse as it’s hard to know what the enemy will do next . It’s all in the blind. I cannot fault or want to fault what the UKGOV are doing , most of the decisions being made are against long standing plans and I mean long standing plans against this type of outbreak . Most of it out of BoJo hands , the establishment run the show irrespective of party in power. The only exception is the fiscal part where I cannot critique the UKGOV for what they are doing and they are up against many many internet warriors who think they know better , instead of wasting their time and sapping the life out of people moaning they should try to get on board and realise how difficulties all is . God bless the NHS and all who sail in her .
Not war comparisons please. Sitting in your house avoiding people is hardly the same.
 

Astute

Well-Known Member
I don’t think he’s said we should be in lockdown weeks ago. He’s said we should be doing more social distancing earlier so we don’t need to. Could have misread though.
So why did he disagree with me when I said distancing was the way to go and nit a shutdown? And then several agreed with him.

I was saying how hard a shutdown was going to be. The same posters disagreed with me.

The same posters that always seem to disagree with me whatever the subject is.

But at least nearly all of us are on the same page now......
 

Grendel

Well-Known Member
Interesting. I do think international students will drop with lots of worrying side effects (hello Coventry city center). I wonder if some unis will insist students take up the exam option?



Then they can take the exam. Best of both worlds. I honestly think under the circumstances this is the best we could’ve hoped for. Some kids are about to get maybe six months of exam prep with no socialising if they want it, with a wealth of educational resources and teachers with free time suddenly appearing. I wouldn’t be so down.

Unis will push for exams but really timing makes it unlikely. The problem is they have a lot of oversubscribed agreed entrance grades on choice one so choice two is half empty - they may have to resort to their own selection processes
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
So why did he disagree with me when I said distancing was the way to go and nit a shutdown? And then several agreed with him.

I was saying how hard a shutdown was going to be. The same posters disagreed with me.

The same posters that always seem to disagree with me whatever the subject is.

But at least nearly all of us are on the same page now......

You’ll have to ask him mate. I think there’s been lots of confusion with the different terms “isolation” “distancing” “lockdown” “quarantine” all used interchangeably at points.
 

RegTheDonk

Well-Known Member
My youngest daughter (who has asthma) has had the virus as has another daughter's husband
Both work in London and are in their 30's
It wasn't pleasant but both are starting to feel better and symptoms are going
Most people like them won't be in the official statistics as they phoned their doctors and were told to self-isolate and ride it out
Two points from this:
  1. The death rate is likely to be a much lower % than feared as lots of sufferers aren't tested
  2. Younger, relatively fit people can get through it even if they have respiratory problems
Hope this is useful
Thanks mate, that is useful as my daughter, also in her 30s, similarly uses an inhaler. The bigger worry is one of her kids is Type1 diabetes and he's only 4. Not too sure how much of a risk he is, the info is very vague "can cause more severe symptoms and complications", but nothing definate.
 

shmmeee

Well-Known Member
Unis will push for exams but really timing makes it unlikely. The problem is they have a lot of oversubscribed agreed entrance grades on choice one so choice two is half empty - they may have to resort to their own selection processes

Not everyone will get their predicted grades though. Read the email from AQA I posted, though it’s still to be worked out it’s clear there’s a more stringent moderation process with exam boards being the ones giving out the grades. It’s not a case of everyone gets what’s on their uni application forms.
 

Astute

Well-Known Member
So there really is a magic money tree after all!




Correct.
Bullshit. Do you want me ti bring up where I have posted that we have to carry on as usual for as long as we can and you disagreed with me each time?
 

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