Discrimination In Education
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of theSprout.
Recently I was enrolling on a course at Cardiff and Vale College, Trowbridge and I experienced some discrimination. Not just by members of staff, but also by the government.
When I went to apply for a bus pass and a lunch ticket there were two people on the desk. The first question I was asked was whether I came from a household with less than £20,000 annual income, I replied, "Yes, I'm an asylum seeker". I was then told that I am not allowed any funds because of my status. I tried explaining that I live about an hour-and-a-quarter walk from school and that I only live on about £35 a week, when a man behind the desk told me in a cold tone, "Asylum seekers have no recourse to public funds". I was quite upset by the discriminatory policy and the man's tone of voice when addressing me. However, I still said "Thank you" and left.
I rang my mother to explain what happened and she asked me to get a copy of the application form, so I could ask someone for advice. I went back to the desk and asked for an application form. The people behind the desk refused to even give me a blank application form saying that I'm not allowed one because I'm an asylum seeker, and again, addressing me with a bad tone of voice!
After a back-and-forth argument of me asking for a blank application form so I could seek advice and them telling me that I'm not allowed one, the woman behind the desk finally allowed me one but not before she made her colleague write on top of it in capitals "ASSYLUM SEEKER" then signed and dated it. He then asked me, "What's your name?" in a very demanding tone. He pressured me to give him my name and when I finally did he didn't know how to spell it so he didn't write it down.
I then went to the reception to cancel another course I applied for and the same woman from the Bus Travel desk came downstairs looking at me as if to make sure that I won't ask for another application. I then left to the toilet and started crying; I was, and still am extremely upset and disappointed by the way I was treated by members of staff whom, if anything, should have been sympathetic and supportive rather than making matters worse by not allowing me a blank application form and addressing me in quite a bad tone.
Furthermore, regarding the policy of "asylum seekers have no recourse to public funds", how is it fair that a person from an annual household of £20,000 and lives closer to school than I do would be entitled to free travel, lunch tickets, help with school materials costs, and EMA/ALG whilst a person living on £35 a week wouldn't? Being an asylum seeker is not a "temporary" thing like it is always referred to, it could last for years, even generations. I was brought over to this country by my mother when I was only 15. I grew up as an asylum seeker, I spent what I consider my most formative years of my life in this country and I partly identify as Welsh.
With my £35 a week I pay for internet (quite an important tool for me to study and communicate with friends), top up my phone, and buy food. I usually don't have enough money to go out, but when I do have any spare money I give it to my disabled mother who looks after my two younger siblings and is not allowed disability benefits because of her status as an asylum seeker. My family live on so little money I know how much even £2 could make a difference and I would hate to see that going on bus money rather than my family.
When I was told that I'm not allowed any of the help mentioned above, for me it was a choice of quitting the course or bearing months of two-and-a-half-hour walks from and to school, spending all school day wet from the walk on rainy days, not be able to afford a hot meal during lunch times, and struggle with buying course materials. What if I lived further? What if I still lived in Llandaff? That would have been about five or six hours to walk from and to school! Last year I was only given two days notice that I'm being moved to another area. This could still happen at any time this year.
This is not the only instance where I was discriminated against in education because of my status. At school, I passed 5 A-levels and Welsh Bacc, so I applied to go to university. I was offered places but only to find out that I was accepted as an international student having to pay £12,000 tuition fees yearly (excluding accommodation, living expenses and course materials) whilst not entitled to any student grants, loans, and not allowed to work, having to depend solely on the £35 I get weekly forcing me to turn down my university offers.
Another instance was when I was 17. I was moved to a migrant hostel, which was an hour-and-a-half walk away from the school I attended. At that time, not only was I not allowed student funds (like bus pass, EMA, etc.) I wasn't even allowed money at all. Yes, zero money and forbidden from employment forcing me to walk three hours everyday just to get an education.
I believe that the government's promotion of diversity and equality whilst supporting such policies is hypocritical. If you agree, please sign this petition to demand equal access of Student Financial Support Fund for asylum seekers and British citizens alike.
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TheSprout contacted Cardiff and Vale College for a response and here is what they said:
At Cardiff and Vale College we believe everyone should be treated fairly and with respect. We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity regardless of factors such as race, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation. The College will not tolerate discrimination.
Cardiff and Vale College would support all students if we could, but means-testing and eligibility assessments are vital to ensure that the priority groups outlined by the Welsh Government are awarded funding where possible. Unfortunately, guidance at present prevents us from supporting asylum seekers. Residency issues are the responsibility of the Home Office and are not devolved to the Welsh Government.
Under the current guidelines, asylum seekers have No Recourse to Public Funds. This restricts the financial support that the College is able to offer as it means that asylum seekers are not eligible for Further Education fees or living costs unless they have been granted refugee status (without restrictions). There is a note at the bottom of the Cardiff and Vale College application form that states: “THE SUPPORT FUND IS UNABLE TO ASSIST ASYLUM SEEKERS.”
The College will have informed the student of the situation regarding asylum seekers and their eligibility and explained it would not be worthwhile applying for funding if their status was as had been advised. The reason for writing “Asylum Seeker” on the form will have been to identify the application quickly so as to ensure the correct response letter was sent.
It is unfortunate that the student feels upset and discriminated against as that is not the intention of the College, nor is it the experience that has been enjoyed by the majority of those enrolling in the last three weeks.
It is difficult for the College to comment on the feedback received relating to the manner of CAVC staff. The College has noted the comments made and will call a meeting to discuss them with the Student Services enrolment team.
Cardiff and Vale College has a mission to transform people’s lives by unlocking their potential and we do our best to ensure all learners have a successful and enjoyable experience. We also recognise that sometimes this may not be the case. The College has policies in place to deal with all complaints promptly, fairly and effectively. Any complaint received in writing will receive a written acknowledgment and a full investigation will take place with a response to the complainant within an agreed timescale.
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1 Comment – Post a comment
dirty
Commented 44 months ago - 15th September 2012 - 10:00am
I was a student of CAVC for two years where I studied my A Levels. I am no longer a student as I am now attending university, but I am disgusted by my college's behaviour to do this to such a vulnerable person.
CAVC has posters on each floor saying that "We are committed to promoting equality of opportunity regardless of factors such as race, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation". If someone is an asylum seeker, it means that they have had to leave their homeland for reasons beyond their control that are often highly traumatising. This also means learning a completely new language which can be extremely difficult e.g. if you grow up speaking one language such as Punjabi your whole life and then live in an English speaking environment, you are alredy at a disadvantage. If you then add to that events that force someone to leave their country and the hugely upsetting aspects of leaving family, friends, education, we can clearly see that it's a hugely difficult experience, and we haven't mentioned that it takes up to 1 0 years to gain asylum. This means that if you entered the country at the age of 14, you could, in theory, be granted asylum at the age of 24: when your peers you went to school with left university three years ago.
If CAVC are committed to promoting equality, then they should have allowed the writer access to funds. Just because a law is there does not mean that it is right and it should be challenged by the college and the college should support this person, no matter what. If they are 'committed', what if the writer had to leave their country of origin because they were a persecuted minority? How is telling them to walk 3 hours to school committing to giving opportunity? How is that going to negatively effect their education? Hugely so. What if they were LGBT and were forced to leave because of that? What if they were a homosexual in a country like Afghanistan and were persecuted, surely turning to them and saying 'we support equality' but saying 'oh, you're an asylum seeker who was persecuted and living on a £35 a week, sorry we're sorry about that, we do support equality and that, and equality means giving you this money, but sorry, we can't, not much we can do about that' is not an acceptable response. And at a base level, treating someone who is a vulnerable person e.g. asylum seeker with that amount of contempt in a public place in front of people is a deplorable act.
I feel a deep sense of shame that a college that benefitted me so much has done this to someone.
Asylum seekers are most likely non-white students. Denying these non white students access to public funds or carrying that out makes someone an oppressive force in somebody's life and therefore disproportinately discriminates against non-white people. . .surely that's racism. Racism is discrimination, but I guess if you're not a British citizen, then the government sanctions that and institutions carry it out. If ShroukiePoo has recently gotten her A Levels (over the past few years), this means they must have come to the UK very young and could be waiting for many more years to get an asylum status. UKBA is overworked and we all know this, but taking it off on someone who actively wants to learn to actively contribute to society.
It's not 'unfortunate' that the student 'feels upset and discriminated against'. It's horrific and it's another example of structural racism that exists not only within British society but also within the education system. It is clear that CAVC does not have a mission to 'transform people's lives by unlocking their potential', but only if you have immigration status in the UK. So it should be 'We'll transform your life, but only if you have papers,' and it should also be 'we are committed, but only with papers'.
I feel hugely upset by this, and regret I am not currently a student to take this further through the SU; this law must be challenged for the writer, for this is unacceptable.