Thursday 22-04-2021 - 14:36

As your student officer team, it’s our duty to amplify the concerns of our student community and ensure your voices are heard at a time of national crisis and uncertainty.

We believe the recent announcement for face-to-face teaching to resume from 17th May onwards is not acceptable. It comes when the majority of you have finished for the year, after you've been waiting patiently to return; to make use of the specialist equipment, visit the inspiring campus spaces and start to rebuild your confidence in what it is like to be around course mates. We should not forget that most students have been unable to meet on campus at any point throughout this academic year.

 

At a time where the Government has decided to open schools, colleges, gyms, and non-essential retail, allow fans into stadiums, but not allow face-to-face teaching until 17th May is disappointing, to say the least. We are frustrated at the lack of empathy, awareness, and acknowledgment of students, why must we continue to be forgotten?

By this time, for the majority of students at LJMU, exams will have finished, students will no longer have any hand-ins, and for those in their final year, may never step back on campus again. For those who are still working on exams or adding finishing touches to dissertations and assignments, these will be submitted online. Therefore, the government's choice to return back to face-to-face teaching from 17th May is inadequate and dispiriting.

Whilst we welcome the Government's roadmap to easing lockdowns, we are frustrated at the conflicting messages and inconsistencies that are consistently putting students last.

 

Enough is Enough.

At JMSU, we will be soon be kicking off our Enough is Enough campaign. We strongly encourage you to get involved - keep a look out on our social media channels and via your LJMU email for details soon! As ever, we are here for you and will continue to lobby at the highest levels for better support for you.