Northern Ireland

Students struggling with isolation

File photo dated 12/10/11 of university students, who are "close to the brink" financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic - with about a fifth struggling to pay their rent and bills, a survey suggests. PA Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 8, 2020. Nearly three in four (73%) students are concerned about being able to manage financially and now half plan to have a full or part-time job alongside their studies, according to the National Union of Students (NUS). See PA story EDUCATION Students. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA Wire.
File photo dated 12/10/11 of university students, who are "close to the brink" financially due to the Covid-19 pandemic - with about a fifth struggling to pay their rent and bills, a survey suggests. PA Photo. Issue date: Tuesday September 8, 2020. Nearly three in four (73%) students are concerned about being able to manage financially and now half plan to have a full or part-time job alongside their studies, according to the National Union of Students (NUS). See PA story EDUCATION Students. Photo credit should read: Chris Radburn/PA Wire.
By Simon Doyle

STUDENTS have missed out on the support they need this term and many are struggling with isolation, it has been warned.

The NUS-USI union will hold a meeting tomorrow with politicians and young people as part of its #StudentsDeserveBetter campaign.

The event - on International Day of the Student - will?discuss the impact Covid-19 has had on higher education.

It also aims to put forward the case for a UK-wide strategy to help people through the rest of the pandemic.

NUS-USI president Ellen Fearon claimed concerns had frequently been ignored or addressed too late.

With many facing uncertainty over Christmas and into the second semester, students were anxious to see more support, she said.

While other regions have begun to announce steps to help students travel home over Christmas, the Stormont executive is yet to release any plan.

Ms Fearon said there has not been enough guidance to support students returning to campus, support for those "trapped in accommodation contracts they wish to leave" or funding to support student mental health.

"Students have been scapegoated for causing a second wave of this pandemic, when they have simply followed instructions," she said.

"We are hosting a town hall meeting so that politicians have the opportunity to hear directly from students the struggles they have faced this year.

"Too many people have been talking about students without actually talking to them. But we refuse to stay silent."