Pnewsology

The week’s news with a dash of psychology!

Jane Ogden (Professor in Health Psychology, Emeritus; email janeogden509@gmail.com; based on a conversation with James Cannon at Radio Surrey; 8.40 am 31/07/2026)

Week ending 31/07/2026

All opinions are those of Jane Ogden

I have been a University Lecturer all my adult life and a massive believer that young people should do something between the ages of 18 and 22 to keep them off the streets and give them life skills. But this doesn’t have to be an academic degree! And whilst we are forever hearing how AI will take all our jobs, I am also a believer that some jobs need people not robots.  And this week we have seen that massive value of human beings who can do things!

Climate change suddenly feels very real and we have seen wildfires burning out of control across Spain, France, Greece, Canada and more locally in Surrey, Suffolk and Essex.  And in response we have seen brave fire fighters and farmers risking their lives to get them under control and put them out.  Thankfully they have useful skills!

We have also seen more drowning accidents in the sea with rescuers pulling people from the water.

And we have read about the massive earthquake in Japan and desperate attempts to pull people from the rubble before its too late.

Also, this week, Andy Burnham announced the next wave of policies including a greater focus on apprenticeships rather than just academic degrees and an emphasis on technical subjects at school, rather than just academic ones.   He also focused on social care highlighting the importance of those who care for others, how they need to be paid more and how the system needs a proper overhaul.

We used to be a country that made things and making and doing was seen as just as useful as thinking.  But somehow that seems to have changed and we now have a 2 tier system where those with degrees are often paid more and valued more than those who are more practical.  Even when I was at school, although we still did metalwork (fabulous hole puncher!) and woodwork (less fabulous pencil case) I don’t think these skills were as well regarded as being good at maths or chemistry. 

There has been a snobbery about what is worth more for a long time, probably self-perpetuating with those at the top having degrees and so believing that degrees are better, which has changed our education system and in turn the structure and skills of our country.

But now as the world burns and we seem to have more problems then ever before, we need people who can be useful and do things!

Young people need to do something after school and if that something is go to university then great – just make sure they also learn skills to make them useful and employable in the future.  But if they don’t go to university, they should also be able to find their place which should be just as valued as everyone else’s.  Then everyone can be kept off the street and everyone can end up being a useful part of our country!