Student-loan interest was the target, but STEM was mostly the doorway: Yes won decisively, and the arguments quickly outgrew the question's narrow carve-out. The result was less an endorsement of one funding mechanism than a demand to revisit the whole architecture of student finance.
The winning side was not chiefly defending preferential treatment for science and engineering. The highest-rated Yes argument said, “Absolutely, for all student loans”, while others extended the case to trades, apprenticeships, humanities, social sciences and the outright abolition of loans.
The No case was sharper on policy design than on the underlying grievance. Its most-respected voice said, “The entire arguement hinges on the ambiguity of what Whitehall actually considers ‘STEM’”, while another warned, “There's no evidence to suppose that interest free loans for STEM courses would reduce skills shortages.” Some No voters wanted a graduate tax or broader reform; others opposed government direction altogether.
That left the two sides talking past each other: Yes voters treated interest itself as the injustice, while No voters questioned whether a STEM discount would change skills shortages or simply reward the wrong courses and institutions. “Why stop at STEM?” captured the room's prevailing instinct, even as a minority argued for apprenticeships, fewer degrees and more disciplined public spending.
Its clearest message is that a targeted concession was heard as an invitation to debate the entire student-loan system.
40 Opinions
The entire arguement hinges on the ambiguity of what Whitehall actually considers "STEM". Why don't we take it one step further and abolish interest on the racket that is the student loan system?
Absolutely, for all student loans. Interest on student loans is nothing more than government-authorised loan sharking.
Yes, and more! We should encourage further education including trades), not only formal academic study. University courses should be more cost effective, streamlined, condensed. So little face to face time for many degrees. Maybe a system subsidising further education for 5 years, from age 18, providing each year is at a higher level than the previous. Current interest on education is iniquitous.
Yes, but ALL student loans should be interest free.
This would be a good first step whilst also being entirely inadequate. The whole student loan system needs reform if not outright abolition
Absolutely they should be interest free.
One STEM degree is not equivalent to another. There are a lot of low tier universities with low standards who aren’t producing a skilled graduate workforce - they may technically be getting a STEM degree but are still lining up for jobs at Costa Coffee and Asda after 3 years of partying and drinking. Other ways to incentivise top talent should be found.
There's no evidence to suppose that interest free loans for STEM courses would reduce skills shortages. It's more likely that it would result in universities, through financial necessity, decreasing the quality of existing STEM provision by increasing student numbers.
No, it all should be regulated by a free market, government isn't able to perform the most basic tasks.
Yes, but not just STEM! We need the humanities and social sciences too!