In December 2019, the government have announced that they are introducing a £5,000 a year bursary for every student nurse in England. This is absolutely fantastic and a massive step in the right direction. 
On top of their university class work, they have to do long days in placement and many also have to have a side job to pay their bills (which often leaves them overworked and underpaid). Therefore, this bursary is a massive help for them - something I believe a lot of students will support.

However, student teachers are often in very similar situations themselves, and yet are overlooked. All student teachers need placements in a school setting before they will be considered for the job (and on many courses, before they are even allowed to graduate). They will spend many hours a day in the classroom on placement (being their from 7am to 7pm is not uncommon), have class work to complete, and also have to have a part time job to cover their expenses. 
Like student nurses, these student teachers are often overworked and underpaid, as they face similar issues regarding the amount of work they have to put in before they will be able to get anything out. 
Therefore, it would be beneficial for all student teachers to receive a similar bursary. Not only would this encourage more teachers into the career, as many schools are understaffed because of these shortages (not even mentioning how understaffed and overworked the SEND departments are in schools), (BBC News, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-45341734 “England’s schools face ‘severe’ teacher shortage”) but it would provide the current students with an aspect of financial stability that is currently unavailable for most.

I recognise that there are already “select bursaries” out there for student teachers, but they are often unobtainable for most. For instance, primary teachers are ineligible for a bursary unless they are doing it at a post graduate level AND are specialising in maths. Even then, they only get a one-off payment of £6,000. Many student teachers studying undergraduate primary education are in similar situations to that of student nurses, and yet are going to be less well off because the course isn’t recognised in the same way.

Our public services (including the NHS, emergency services, schools etc) are what makes Britain great. The bursaries for nurses will give them an more financial freedom to focus on their chosen career. All we are asking is that others with very similar structured courses are allowed to reap the same benefits. It’s very difficult to manage a placement, university work, and a job to pay for everything, which is where the £5,000 will help. 
This should also be made available for student teachers who are in the same situation! Invest in the future of Britain!