University fee plan for poorer students 'not workable'

Ministers proposed that students from disadvantaged backgrounds could have one year paid by the state, matched by another from their university. Universities UK chief executive Nicola Dandridge said such a scheme would hit some institutions harder than others. Three days before MPs decided on the government's controversial plans, ministers announced they were looking to use a £150 million fund to provide a year's free tuition for poorer students. Then the university will provide another year's study free of charge. The proposal was thought to have helped persuade some Lib Dem MPs to support the government. The Lib Dem came under intense pressure from students after promising to abolish tuition fees in their election manifesto, before forming the coalition. Ms Dandridge said in practice the government's proposals would be "difficult and counterproductive". Poorer students were concentrated in the new universities which would find themselves having to pay out millions of pounds to provide free tuition, she said. Cash for the new fund - set aside for pupils who were eligible for free schools meals - would come from the National Scholarship Programme already announced. Under the plans, universities charging more than £6,000 a year could be forced to pay such students' fees for a second year. Ministers believe up to 18,000 students could ultimately benefit. Free school meals are available to families claiming certain benefits and are given to around 80,000 pupils in each school year. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said plans to help poorer students were still being developed.

Reaction:

Students have all the right to fight for what they believe is unfair. Now the government have came with a new plan, to help poor students the first 2 years of their career in a university. They will pay the tuition of the first year and the second year the university will do it.  I think this is not the best solution. Everyone should have the same rights, I know that there are poor students who cannot pay their studies, but how will the government know who are they. Maybe the parents of a student have money but the student is doing everything by himself, without any help of them. So I really hope the Government make other plans or just abolish the tuition fees which are really unfair for the students in general.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-12141552

Llanelli paramedic cleared after shopping on duty

 

A Carmarthenshire paramedic, was suspended after going shopping while on duty, has been told she can return to work. A disciplinary hearing found the case against Llanelli-based Esther Thomas was not well founded and that her actions did not amount to misconduct. Ms Thomas took her ambulance to an Aldi store in the town without telling controllers she was free for another medical emergency. She denied her behaviour amounted to misconduct. The hearing in Cardiff heard that Thomas bought personal shopping at the store while on duty, while another paramedic from the Welsh Ambulance Service waited in the car park outside. Laura Ryan who presented the case said the incident happened after Ms Thomas and another paramedic had been asked to respond to an emergency patient call. She said: "The patient declined transport to hospital and, after completing paperwork, Thomas asked her colleague to drive her to Aldi’’. She did not inform her controller that she was clear to carry out further duties. The hearing was told Thomas was suspended after the incident was reported to the Welsh Ambulance Service in April 2009. Miss Ryan said: "The investigation found she attended the supermarket without any permission and there was a delay in her being available to go any other job. Esther Thomas was then dismissed from the service. However she appealed and was reinstated but she remains suspended and is still currently being paid. The hearing was told that Thomas had a personal medical problem and that her treatment may have affected her behaviour.

 

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Well I think a paramedic should be always available when they are on duty because someone can need an ambulance in any moment. This woman decided to go shopping and because they found out they decided to suspend her. According to the information on this article, she has a personal medical problem. The treatment may have affected her behaviour. This does not mean that this incident is acceptable. If she was having problems she should not went to work because a paramedic have to be hundred percent focused on his or her job so he or she can help a patient.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-12138435

Man dies after dog rescue attempt off Brighton beach

 

A 54-year-old man has died after he and his 13-year-old daughter went into rough seas in Brighton seafront to rescue their two dogs. According to the Sussex Police, the man went to walk his dogs with his daughter, the dogs entered the sea and the man and daughter followed them in.  Both were rescued and taken to hospital, but the man died three hours later. The girl was quickly recovered from the water, but her father was located about 30m offshore, near the pier. The man was difficult to reach and eventually pulled from the water by the lifeboat. He was taken to the Royal Sussex Hospital by air ambulance in a critical condition but died later. The coastguard said one of the Jack Russell dogs returned to the beach. A Sussex Police spokeswoman said at least two members of the public helped pull the girl to safety. Colin Griffiths, the duty watch manager at Solent Coastguard, advised people not to attempt to rescue their dogs from the sea because dogs will return to their owners after a swim. People cannot risk their life going into seas of temperatures about 4 to 5 degrees Celsius this time of year.

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This is a tragic incident. I can understand that this man and his daughter were worried about their dogs because the water was really cold and their dogs could died, but it is not worth to risk your own life for them. Normally they just come out by themselves. It is really sad to read this type of news; they did not think when they decide to entered the sea. The water was too cold and he died of hypothermia. I hope other people can learn from this terrible accident and think before doing something like this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-12143079

Britain's first Hindu free school puts meditation on the timetable

The backers of Britain’s first Hindu free school said that the school day will begin at 8am with meditation and most learning will be over by lunch. The state-funded primary will be the second Hindu school in the country. This new school will, unlike Britain’s first Hindu primary, admit at least half intakes regardless of their faith background. Both schools are backed by the I-Foundation charity, which is seeking to open other schools, including a secondary to cater for Britain's 1.2 million Hindus. Backers of this school say it will expand with each new intake, providing 420 places for 4-11 year-olds by 2018. According to the project director of the school, Pradip Gajjar, this is a school which is not just adding meditation and yoga, but embedding these things are very attractive to people of other faiths and none. It also will provide modern IT facilities and a new vegetarian kitchen. The school will follow the national curriculum but with religious features including meditation and the recitation of Hindu scripture at the start of the day. The school day is in keeping with a Hindu belief that "learning in the morning hours is much more productive", Gajjar said. Free schools must admit 50% of pupils "without reference to faith". They can give priority to children of their own religion but cannot refuse others if they are under-subscribed. There is some unease over the prominent role of religion in the first wave of free schools, with critics saying it will lead to greater social segregation.

Reaction:
This is a good idea, to come with a new Hindu school which not only will accept Hindus but also student with other or non religion. I think every person can choose their own religion and there should be schools which help to develop this. Why only Christians or Catholics? We have to respect and accept other religion. So I do not think this will lead to social segregation. Because even if there is no Hindu school, these persons will continue believe and practice their religion.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2011/jan/07/first-hindu-free-school-unveils-plans

Nursery worker charged with rape of child

 

Paul Wilson is a 20-year-old nursery assistant who had worked for 18 months at the Little Stars nursery. He has been arrested because he is charged with the rape of a child at his workplace. According to Jayne Salt, head of the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) West Midlands complex casework, they have examined all the information which was submitted to them and there is sufficient evidence to charge Paul Wilson with two counts of rape. They recovered material which, when it was forensically examined, led them believe that a series of serious sexual offences took place against a child in that nursery. The parents who took their children to the Little Star nursery are really concern but the police have told them that all the evidence suggests there are one offender and one child. The family of the child has been told and police are supporting them. The chief executive of the Little Stars, John James said that they are shocked to hear of the allegations made and will co-operate fully with the police inquiry. The nursery has been closed temporarily for investigation. According to the last report in November which rated the quality of the nursery said that it was overall good and that children were cared for in a safe and secure environment.

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I have to say that I am in shock; I cannot imagine who can be able to do something like this to innocent children. This person is for sure insane, that is why I hope he stay in jail for ever. These cases are each day more often and I hope this person gets a hard punishment so other pedophiles get scared and stop doing this horrible thing.  On the other hand, the parents of this child who has been sexual abuse have to focus on the child and try to help him to recover of this horrible incident.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/jan/06/man-charged-child-rape-birmingham-nursery

Joanna Yeates police launch Facebook appeal to find killer

Eight days after her missing, on Christmas morning, her body was found three miles from her flat in Bristol. Now the family wants to know who killed her. Joanna Yeates was a 25-year-old landscape architect. The detectives involving in this case are using all the resources to catch the killer. That is why they have launched a national Facebook campaign to ask for help.  Everyone will find an advert showing the photo of Joanna headlined ‘Jo’s murder can you help?’ They want to encourage people to give information if they have any. According to the Detective Chief Inspector Phil Jones, people spend most of the time on Facebook, so this advert will help people to be informed on the case but also give information. Details of the murder have already been shared more than 24,000 times on Facebook. The detectives have also received through the website 260 messages related to this incident. The mother of this young woman told how quiet life was without her daughter. Police have not discarded the possibility that it was more than one person who killed her, or that her killing was sexually motivated. Important is that officers are receiving many pieces of information and this investigation has been categorized as ‘high priority’. They are exploring every possible hypothesis to find out who killed her. Jones said: "I assure you we are determined to bring Jo's killers to justice." He said he used "killers" rather than "killer" because he wanted to emphasized that he was keeping an open mind.

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I can imagine how difficult it is for the mother of Joanna not to know who did this to her daughter. She wants justice, she wants to find put who are the killers and why did they did this to her. I am very glad to read that detectives are doing their best to find out who are the killers. I think the Facebook advert is a very good idea because it is true that many people use it, so this will encourage people to give information even if it is not very important for them. Hopefully this will help the police to find the killer sooner.   

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jan/04/joanna-yeates-facebook-appeal

Mothers put at risk by inferior overnight care, maternity chief warns

The doctors of the NHS Hospital are worried about the inexperienced night staff. This staff is making bad decisions about the care when women give birth at night. Britain's top maternity doctors are warning that the inexperience of doctors working at night shifts can bring many bad consequences to mother and child because the care is not the same. Dr Tony Falconer said "Care overnight have not the same quality as at 9am or 2pm. It's not as good. At 2am, you do not have the same experience." This means that problems can happen because trainee obstetricians and other key staff, such as anaesthetists, who works night duty, are less experienced than those in the day. He also said that the NHS should use most or all of the money spent settling such cases to hire 500 to 1,000 senior doctors, who will improve the quality and safety of care in all big maternity hospitals, and not just be available by phone to advise junior colleagues.

Reaction: I think that there should not be differences in the quality of doctors in the day and the night shifts. Maybe it is an option to split the day shift in two groups and let them work night shifts, this will bring better care for the women who are given birth. This option is of course a temporal solution, because it is clear that there are not sufficient top doctors, that is why they should hire more experiences doctors because right now there are not enough in the NHS hospital.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/dec/31/mothers-nhs-overnight-care-doctors

Water restrictions continue to affect 55,000 NI homes

 As temperatures rose, burst pipes drained reservoirs, forcing NI Water to turn off the tap to the 80 locations. That is why thousands of people in Northern Ireland have been without water supply, some of them for more than two weeks.Water engineers are doing their best to reconnect supplies as soon as possible. Government-owned Northern Ireland Water said that it will take about three or four more days to let everyone have water supply again in Northern Ireland. On the second day of the year they will cut the supplies to more than 55,000 households in order to help replenish reservoirs. However, Northern Ireland Water has reported that the number of homes and businesses with no supply has dropped to 799. Burst pipes will be the cause that some schools cannot re-open on Monday after the Christmas break.  The Scottish First Minister has said that he would not be charging Northern Ireland for the 500,000 liters of bottled water he had sent during the crisis. Some of the places that are affected include east Belfast, Dungannon and Aughnacloy. Other places like Dunmurry, Castlewellan, Newry, and Ballygawley have been placed on a rotating supply. This Sunday the Northern Ireland Water has said that the number of customers without any supply is now 2.497. This means that it is being reduced.

Reaction: The Northern Ireland Water is doing its best to reduce customers without water. This problem is something that no one could prevent, the winter in the UK is being really intense and so far it has brought many problems. I also find really kind what the Scottish First Minister said, that he will not charge Northern Ireland for the water that they sent. This means that they are helping without expecting anything in return. This is something that many people should appreciate and learn from.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12104437