Dundee University says support in place to prevent students turning to sex industry to fund studies
A Dundee University students' leader says there is no evidence that undergraduates in the city are turning to work in the sex industry to fund their education.
The NUS estimates a fifth of women working in lap dancing clubs are students.
- Published in the Courier : 15.12.11
- Published online : 15.12.11 @ 10.44am
Iain Kennedy, president of Dundee University Students' Association, was commenting on the claim of the National Union of Students that some students are being forced into the trade to meet rising tuition fees and living costs.
The NUS estimates a fifth of women working in lap dancing clubs are students. As well as sex work, students are turning to gambling and participating in medical experiments, it added.
UK Government reforms mean universities can start charging up to £9,000 annually in tuition fees from next year, and Scottish establishments are following suit for students from the rest of the UK.
The education maintenance allowance for 16 to 19-year-olds has been scrapped, adding extra financial pressure to school leavers entering higher education.
These developments are causing students to turn to the ''informal'' sector for money, according to the NUS.
Estelle Hart, the NUS national women's officer, told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast: ''Students are taking more dangerous measures. In an economic climate where there are very few jobs, where student support has been massively cut, people are taking more work in the informal economy, such as sex work.
''It's all dangerous unregulated work, simply so people can stay in education.''
Mr Kennedy said it is a worrying development that may exist at some British universities but there is no evidence of it happening in Dundee.
''We have a wide range of services in the students' union to advise on issues like finance and funding,'' he said. ''Students can access a hardship fund and there are bursaries to help students who may need assistance with financing their time in higher education.
''We know of no evidence here that the sex trade is an option for students here who are struggling with money and would urge any students with concerns about finance to use our advice services.''
Photo by Julien Behal/PA Archive
06.39pm - 15.12.2011 John Jones - Dundee, Scotland Report This
This is not news in any sense. Poverty leading to students selling themselves is a centuries-old story, probably always true in a few cases but never very widespread. Here it's being revived by a feminist careerist, desperate for a safe Labour seat, in urgent need of lurid headlines.
03.19pm - 06.05.2012 Gary Paterson - Arbroath, Scotland Report This
John, slavery was a centuries old story, just because student prostitution exists we should just close our eyes to it and say 'oh well'. What this story does highlight is the clear differences between UK and Scottish education provision, and what some students are having to do to meet the costs.
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