The Labour government has broken its own manifesto pledge by unveiling plans to introduce top-up fees in The controversial proposals for student funding and higher education, published last month, will mean that universities will be able to charge students tuition fees of up to £3000 per Saddling students with thousands of pounds of debt which has been shown to deter significant numbers of people from poorer backgrounds from going to university is not the way to create a more "inclusive society", which New Labour says is at the hart of it policy NOT FEES down on key issues outlined in the
The NUS leadership must be pushed to fight all the way, and not to except a compromise with the government. And only a sustained campaign by
A united effort, to get rid of the tuition fees altogether, is the only solution to student debt. A recent report by UNITE found that students from poorer backgrounds owed on average 15% more than other students, linking increased debt with initial financial disadvantages they face. Many students have to work in low paid part-time work, and many drop out due to financial problems and living in poor conditions. Only a free education system from the cradle to the grave can solve this. Students need to build regional action so that we can galvanise opposition to the White Paper and maximise pressure on the government. A useful focus could be piling pressure on local MPs who have not come out publicly against tuition fees.
Even though the NUS has called this week of action, students should not
rely on the NUS for to wage the campaign for them: they must organise inside their local student unions for the maximum action to implemented and to link up with teachers and other workers in the colleges. The NUS programme of action, starts with a Mass National Lobby of Parliament on March 5. There will also be an outdoor advertising campaign - 30 high impact billboards will promote the NUS campaign messages to the public in 13 cities across England and Wales.
But most important of all is the week of action between 15-21 March. This week will see action in towns and cities across the country.
Students need to co-ordinate this activity and provide a range of campaign ideas and strategies including direct action.
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