Many have expressed concerns about government attempts to impose new student loan restrictions. Despite contrary claims from ministers, many feel that tightening the grading system will disadvantage poorer students. Now though, two public figures have come forward to express more concerns.

Poet and Dragon’s Den Star Speak Out

Benjamin Zephaniah and Theo Paphitis have both offered their input into how this will also impact disabled students. These two public figures are dyslexic and feel that not only will these measures impact poor students but will also disadvantage students who live with invisible disabilities. Zephaniah said he’d struggled academically to the extent that he felt like a “failure.” He said and the government should find a more accessible solution through their intended reforms.

Important to note that Zephaniah is a professor of Creative Writing at Brunel University.

Theo Paphitis is similarly the chancellor of Solent University in Southampton. He felt the idea was “ridiculous” and pointed out further concerns about putting able students at a financial disadvantaged because of something beyond their control like a disability. He knew all too well that dyslexics do not perform well in exams. Our educational system still puts a lot of weight no exams.

What Do Dyslexia Charities Think?

The British Dyslexia Association agreed with both Paphitis and Zephaniah. They disagreed with the setting of “blanket rules” of set grades. Students who struggle with exams but whose strengths lie elsewhere will find their applications at a disadvantage. Naturally, this applies to any students and not just dyslexics though such students are more likely to struggle and struggle more often with this assessment method.

Similarly, Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity described the government’s new measures as conflicting with their so-called “levelling up agenda.” They spoke for other neurodivergent students and their needs (of which dyslexia is only one such disability or limiting condition).

Ongoing Consultation Related to the Augar Report

All this is amid government plans, part of the ongoing consultation and research that followed in the wake of The Augar Report. The main part of the government’s reforms is cost reduction for post-eighteen education costs and funding. This began during Theresa May’s premiership.

This isn’t the first set of concerns raised about the government reforms. Previously, The Institute for Fiscal Studies stated that the longer repayment period of student loans will benefit higher earners far more often than it will benefit lower and lower middle earners as those two groups will accrue more interest.

The final word goes to the DoE who said the consultation was ongoing and that exemptions for certain disadvantaged groups may follow.