Britain turned down the offer to remain a member of the cultural exchange program after Brexit.
The U.K. decided to leave the EU’s Erasmus+ student exchange scheme because Brits’ poor foreign language skills made membership too expensive to justify, a senior British official has revealed.
Lower take-up of the scheme by British students compared to other nationalities — put down to a weak aptitude for language learning — meant London expected to pay in nearly €300 million more a year than it received back, Nick Leake, a veteran senior diplomat at the U.K. Mission said this week.
It comes as youth organizations on both sides of the channel launch a renewed push for the U.K. to rejoin the scheme — and as an EU advisory body urges the Commission to get negotiations going.
I’d bet because it requires adults with better language skills.
We had a few exchange students when I was growing up and if the student was considered “mostly fluent” they’d come alone and have a group they’d meet with.
Students who were barely fluent often time had an adult with them.
I’d gather the exchange groups with less fluency require more adults, even if they’re not paid they have transport costs and whatnot.
That said, you’re totally right. It’s wild the article just goes “and of course it’s more money” as if it’s common knowledge why.