BY LUCAS VOSS
‘Home working’ is often used as a blanket term to imply business will continue as usual, albeit from another location. A glimpse into the student or worker’s home office is offered in a video call, however this is only a select view or virtual background. So, what is a home office really like?
An idealistic space adorned with a desk, ergonomic chair, computer, and top of the range coffee machine to fuel the day, is not accessible to most of the UK’s working population. Even so, it would not cater for a whole family now simultaneously working from home, including children being home-schooled. This would resonate with Robert Kelly, as his BBC interview was interrupted by his children in 2017, leading it to go viral – although now it is the new normal for students to witness their lecturer’s children or pets dart across the background of Zoom lectures. On the other end of the call, the student may have their laptop set up at the kitchen table or sat on the sofa. “We realised some students don’t even have a desk”, a University of Plymouth Lecturer tells Plymouth Gazette. This could leave students disadvantaged against peers, that do not contend with difficult working environments to continue their degree during the pandemic.
Physical resources such as a desk or materials, are not the only potential barriers students are facing at the University of Plymouth and institutions across the world. The Student Services Operations Manager, Claire Chinnock tells Plymouth Gazette that “many of our students rely on the digital resources provided on campus, and found the move to home study particularly challenging due to not having the same resources available at home”. The University introduced the Short Term Hardship Grant (COVID-19) in April to “support those who have been financially impacted as a direct result of COVID-19”. Chinnock says “the grant has been well utilised”, with money awarded based on assessment criteria and, “for some, this has been used to support the repair or purchase of laptops and other software”. In exceptional circumstances, “Student Services has also been able to arrange for a loan of a limited number of laptops to students”.
Issues of digital poverty have been brought to the forefront by these unprecedented times, after previous dismissal. The 2019 General Election brought forth major election pledges from all sides, with Labour’s announcement of free broadband for all, creating political stir as Boris Johnson denounced it a ‘crazed communist scheme’. Months later, the pandemic saw the Conservative Government announce provision of 4G routers for disadvantaged secondary school pupils. Chinnock acknowledges internet access has affected students at university level too, as Student Services “have had some comments [and] feedback about a lack of internet access to study online”. However, these issues are dealt with by faculties and personal tutors to find solutions that support those students.
Access to technology and internet is unequal, with The Guardian stating that “vulnerable groups […] are hit hardest by more expensive pay-as-you-go tariffs because they cannot afford wifi at home or fixed-term contracts”. “I don’t know exactly what gigabit broadband is”, are the words of Johnson himself at his own campaign launch. If the Prime Minister does not understand the technological needs of the country, it leaves little hope for citizens in digital poverty. With poor continuity of school education and issues of technological access to remote learning during lockdown, access to higher education could be further reduced for disadvantaged students. Ensuring access for all is important to the growth and education of young people as individuals, while supporting the need for highly skilled workers for the UK economy. It is currently predicted that the UK will “run out of highly skilled workers by 2030”, according to Statista, which may be worsened by the technological barriers to learning that this novel coronavirus has brought to light.
Chinnock says “we understand the implications that the need for remote learning has on our student population, and we are working very hard with colleagues across the University to help find solutions and ways to support students as we move into a new academic year”. If financial barriers are affecting your access to learning as a result of COVID-19, check your eligibility to apply for the Short-Term Hardship Grant (COVID-19). You can also consider other financial support options on the University website, or email Student Services.