Working class students divided on civil service summer internship reform

Some students say that after the ministers announced the reforms aimed at encouraging more working -class people to work for the government, they are excluded from a large public service internship plan.

Applications to the Summer Program now It is limited to those from low socio-economic pastsThe ministers say that the public service will help the society more representation and the government will help make better decisions.

BBC News spoke to four students who wanted to work in public service after graduating to hear what they’re thinking about changes.

20-year-old man Allen is studying sociology and criminology at Newark-On-Trent and at the University of Warwick

The public service was not something that Adam was aware of until he went to university and participated in some social assistance activities.

Last year, after the university, he thought of applying to the summer internship program, which was seen as a good step for a job in public service, but postponed how special it looked.

“In terms of personal networks and knowledge, what would I have a chance to have a little more leg and a little more advantages than me?”

Next year, approximately 200 people are expected to be admitted to the renewed internship program.

According to government figures, there were approximately 450 trainees, including 125 of the low socio-economic pasts selected from 4,200 applicants last year.

Trainees are assigned and assigned to assist the event plans, briefing for ministers, shadow senior civil servants and policy development.

The man told BBC News that none of his parents were going to university and that he was not in a stable employment for most of his childhood. They tended to work in factories and warehouses.

He says he has behavioral problems at school because of a difficult home life. He bought free school meals, but he began to see the opportunity to prove his education value during the sixth form.

This pushed him to get a place in three A*s and Warwick at A level.

The man, a part of the social mobility organization, said that 93% club for public school students in British universities made the changes in the internship program to rethink about public service.

“Now I will be taken seriously and it’s not just someone anymore [applying] Without a real shot. “

21 -year -old Nell Ashworth examines social policy from King’s Lynn and York University

As the daughter of a nurse, the virtues of public service were something Nell Ashworth grew up.

“Basically, I chose to make my degree in the field of social policy because I want to work for public service,” he says. “I think I have not rewarded all these preparations too much.”

Nell is often aware that those who perform well during the summer internship between the second and third year of a university course can be quickly monitored in a postgraduate job in public service.

It is the flagship program of the service to hire trained graduates for fast flow, leadership and management roles.

According to government figures, it was extremely competitive and more than 44,000 applications last year, but only 986 were proposed for an appointment. Of these, 211 of them were caused by low socio-economic pasts.

In general, as of March 2024, there were about 540,000 people working in public service.

In accordance with new rules, Nell will be allowed to resort to a rapid flow, but not for the summer internship program. The reason for this is that conformity is decided by an applicant’s parents by the work done at the age of 14. In the case of Nell, his mother was a nurse and his father was a town planner.

The criteria currently used for internship are determined by the Social Mobility Commission, an independent organ that advises the government.

They divide things into five groups; The lowest two are considered to be the working class and contain professions such as mechanic, electrician, store assistant, worker, cleaner and waiter.

However, it is accepted on these working glass groups such as office workers, roofers and taxi drivers, such as nurses and teachers.

“Mostly, I felt dull, Nell says Nell to see the changes that plan to apply for the next year’s program. “If I knew, I could change my plans and instead I could apply for this summer internship.”

Nell, who is the first person to go to university in their parents’ families, understands why the government is trying to encourage more people with a working class history.

Although he sees himself as one of them, he is afraid that others like him are not considered to be the working class because they will be deterred in the public sector.

“I have in the middle, not rich or poor, where am I going? And then it stops working in public service because now I don’t know who’s calling me.”

20 -year -old Hannah Begum, Leeds and London School of Economics (LSE) is investigating international relations

Developing society is at the center of what Hannah Begum wants to do for a career.

He grew up in Yorkshire, where his father was a self -employer and his mother was a part -time community worker.

He says that most of the students in LSE have rich international pasts or grew up in the south -east of England.

“Many of them don’t really know what to live in Leeds or to live in the north, and how different they can be.”

Hannah thinks there is much more opportunities for high -quality work experience when you are in London – don’t care to save accommodation and travel costs – and thinks that reforms in public service internships will open a door for people like him.

“Most people in this country are not in high socio-economic classes. Most people in this country are influenced by the bitch affected by the cost of the life crisis, and we need people who fully reflect these people in the government,” he says.

He continued: “If we do not create step stones to enter, we will not put these people into the government.”

Hannah understands why internship reforms are controversial for some, but he invites them to see them from the point of view.

He said: “It should be considered that not everyone has the same privileges in terms of finding a job in the government… [the reforms] They won’t mean less intelligent people get in, it just means a little more equal chance. “

21 -year -old Peter Murphy, History Education from London and University of Cambridge

Working in public service means more than a logical career choice for Peter Murphy – a chance to serve your mind and country as patriotic.

His father, who emigrated from Ireland, was the first person to go to university in his family, and there was a shop from Peter’s grandfather Dublin.

Peter was relatives in the Irish capital when he heard the changes in the internship program. “I was quite angry at that moment because it sounds like the carpet was pulled [from under me]. “

North London, who studied public schools, says to us: “I just don’t want me anymore.”

He said that his desire to work in public service has only been strengthened since he started his degree in Cambridge, and that too many students focused on lucrative careers, taking into account very little for wider problems.

“I am worried that many bright people become very disconnected from civil society, and we turn into a nation where people live in the small ivory towers,” he says.

“[The reforms] It is contrary to what it means to be unfair and British… Only throwing me socially devastating, people think they are not taken for their own benefits. “