73,000 young British people postpone going to university

The number of young people who register for university and then put it off for a year, taking a gap year to travel or learn a trade, has increased to its highest level in more than a decade.

Britt Dewing, 19, who is finishing her gap year, said it was a popular choice for her generation because she felt she missed out on a lot of social experiences during her years stuck at home.

"I think because of Covid, many people have missed the opportunity to do very normal things like working part-time, participating in extracurricular activities, or simply socializing," she shared.

This year, nearly 73,000 British students chose to do the same, the highest number in 13 years.

The mother of an 18-year-old said about 70 percent of her son’s friends did not enroll in college this September. Most of them still applied but did not attend, including her son. The mother said the current generation of young people is exhausted from studying.

Professor Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the Council of Independent Schools in England, also said that many students who have had three years of study during the pandemic are very tired and want to take a break.

In addition to this reason, students are also hesitant to go to university because many of their friends did not have a good experience. They want to learn a trade rather than pursue a degree, which is not necessarily a high income, according to Professor Lenon.

“Lack of accommodation, Covid lockdown, boring online lectures, grumpy teachers, ungraded assignments… all affect their thinking,” he said.

Plus, young Britons know that degrees don't always lead to high earnings, but they do come with a lot of debt. "Sometimes it's better to do an apprenticeship or get a job," adds Professor Lenon.

Last year, university enrolments among young people in Britain fell for the first time in a decade, but are still higher than pre-pandemic levels. Mark Corver, co-founder of DataHE, aneducation consultancy, predicts this year will be the second such year.

One of the most popular activities during a gap year is spending time abroad. According to Sam Willan, vice president of travel company StudentUniverse, the demand for overseas travel among young Britons is growing. Instead of going to Asian countries, young people tend to visit India, South Africa, Brazil and Peru.

"Despite financial difficulties, traveling is still an indisputable thing for this generation. They see this as an opportunity to help themselves stand out in their future careers," he said.

Lucy Lynch, an expert on overseas work and volunteering, said that during work and travel, young people will practice many practical skills such as time management, independent work and problem solving. These are all important soft skills that young people have missed during the pandemic.

"Gap year is a great opportunity for young people to interact with society, gain more confidence and motivation to go out of their comfort zone," said Lucy.

However, a gap year can make it difficult for young people to return to study. UCAS, the UK education consultancy, advises young people to have clear goals for their future and plan activities that support those goals, such as taking on part-time work related to their future studies.

Phuong Anh (According to Telegraph )

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