From this September, British students will pay up to €11,000 to study at university, three times more than today's undergraduate students. The rise was implemented by the ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. Many school-leavers are now deciding not to go to university. Those who do go are likely to rack up debts of up to €60,000 before they ever start earning.
With university education more expensive than ever in the US, more and more students are taking out loans to cover the costs. But with America's economy on rocky ground and well-paying jobs scarce, many graduates are defaulting on their loans. Some economists now worry that the student bubble might burst.
Critics say the Arab League’s monitoring mission in Syria is toothless and ineffective. We ask why it won't take bolder steps to stop the violence. Next, we meet the Iraqi Kurd forces keeping Kurdistan safe and stable amid the chaos. Finally, 40% of Egyptians cannot read or write. It's not just an educational challenge, but also an economic challenge to lift these families out of poverty.
French Interior Minister Claude Guéant has revised his controversial clampdown on international work visas after a meeting with education groups. Critics called the initial move a ploy to appeal to the far right ahead of the forthcoming presidential elections this year. But some fear the damage has already been done, since many young students have had to return to their native countries after graduation.
It's not looking good for the French economy as national statistics indicate that France is now in a full blown recession. Paris could even lose its Triple-A debt rating. Meanwhile, philosophy is back in fashion. Michel Onfray’s free classes at the ‘Université popularie’ in Caen are proving a massive success. Finally, French film The Artist is taking over Hollywood’s awards scene. The movie is heading for the Golden Globes with six nominations.
With presidential elections less than a year away, Barack Obama hopes to woo America's Latino electorate with his so-called Dream Act. The proposal would enable undocumented college-level graduates to obtain citizenship. California has already taken a step in that direction, with undocumented students there eligible for public grants from next year.
Following a memo signed by Interior Minister Claude Guéant (pictured), many foreign graduates in France have recently seen their applications for work permits rejected and are being told to leave the country. France24.com takes a closer look.
An estimated 2.5 million Roma people live in Romania. Here, the government has fully understood the importance of education in integrating the community into wider society. But in practice, going to school often brings new problems for these Roma families.
Thousands of UK students marched through the capital Wednesday in their latest demonstration against the Conservative-led government’s radical changes to higher education funding, which sparked violent protests a year ago.
