Exclusive: Graduate told to get a gown or miss ceremony
Part-time Newbury College student says many cannot afford the £54 fee to hire graduation gown
A NEWBURY College student has expressed anger at being banned from attending her own graduation ceremony because she cannot afford a gown and mortar.
Kate Marshall, aged 26, from Newbury, said herself and around 30 other students would not be able to take part in the ceremony after they told the college they couldn't afford to pay for the traditional attire.
She said she had already paid out almost £2,000 in fees to the college and with money being so tight and Christmas around the corner she and many of her fellow students were desperate to take part in the send-off but could simply not afford the extra sum.
Miss Marshall has been a part-time student at Newbury College since September 2010 and teaches children with special educational needs in Kennet School in Thatcham.
“We have been told by the Newbury College amongst 30 other students, that we cannot attend our graduation ceremony on December 13 because we cannot afford the fee. It is going to cost every student £54 if they wish to attend the ceremony to hire the gown,” she said.
“I find this both unfair and incredibly frustrating, especially with the current economic climate.
“For some this will be their first graduation ceremony and they wont be able to go.
“As part-time adult students, we believe as a group that we have contributed more than enough money to the college to be able to turn up to our graduation ceremony.
“I have been thinking we should just organise our own ceremony down the pub.
“Education is supposed to be about recognising achievement rather than this, and we want to fight it.”
A spokeswoman for Newbury College, Una Carr, said: “It is common practice for people to be requested to wear graduation gowns to Higher Education graduation ceremonies.
“Common practice for Higher Education graduation awards ceremonies and originally requested by staff and learners when we first started 9 years ago.”
She said it was unlikely that a compromise would be reached.
“As the majority of learners have already booked their gowns and are looking forward to wearing them it would be unfair to change this at this stage,” she said.
“We recognise that this year a few students have said that they do not want to pay for gowns. However the majority of students have ordered and want to wear gowns as is the tradition for celebrating achieving a Higher Education level qualification. We will be looking at feedback from all our learners for next year.”
ENDS
