Students stage protest over 'betrayal' with university fees
STUDENTS marched through a town centre in protest at plans to treble university tuition fees, which they claim will be a "betrayal of young people".
Dozens of school, college and university students staged the event in Stafford yesterday, on the eve of today's crucial vote in the House of Commons.
-
Chanting and waving banners with slogans such as "Fill our minds, not your pockets" and "9k? No way", they made their way from Market Square and down the main shopping streets, as police watched.
The march came as figures were released showing how much universities will have to charge simply to keep their current range of courses.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
They are facing teaching grant cuts of up to 80 per cent, with the prospect of many subjects no longer receiving any public funding in future.
The University and College Union (UCU) estimated Staffordshire University would need to charge £6,829 a year just to stand still. It is thought £30.7 million of its teaching funds are at risk.
Keele University, which could lose £17.3 million, would have to raise fees to £6,465 to make up the shortfall.
And Manchester Metropolitan University, which has a campus in Crewe, might have to charge a minimum of £6,533 a year in fees to cope with £51.9 million of possible teaching grant cuts.
UCU says slashing university funding will also cost the Staffordshire and South Cheshire economy many more millions of pounds as the knock-on effects are felt.
Rowan Draper, from Littleworth, in Stafford, joined yesterday's march, which was jointly organised by student representatives from Staffordshire University, Stafford College, and local schools.
The 25-year-old graduate said: "I can understand there are cuts to be made, but it's too fast and too deep.
"I've already completed my degree and I've got £20,000 worth of debts. To have even higher fees would be ludicrous. It's an absolute betrayal of young people."
Staffordshire University student Matthew Wright, of Beaconside, Stafford, said the plans would hit students from less well-off backgrounds the hardest.
The 20-year-old, who is in the second year of a degree in web development, said: "The changes won't affect me, but I'm worried about my younger sister who will have to pay more."
Katy Lovell, aged 17, from Highfields, is studying at Stafford College. She is set to be in the first wave of university students affected by the changes, if they come into force from September 2012.
Katy said: "I want to go to university to do either midwifery or social work. If I don't study at university, I won't get the job I want. But if fees are increased, I won't be able to afford to go."
The proposals would see the current fees cap of £3,290 a year raised to a basic £6,000. Universities could charge up to £9,000 a year if they meet rules aimed at helping young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Payments won't kick in until students graduate and start earning at least £21,000.
Comments
by nicholas, newcastle under lyme
Friday, December 10 2010, 1:23AM
“Im going to vomit and cleanse my mind of the Ignorance of British Politics.Quote and Unquote and fly off to Tibet.Hee hee.PS Metaphor.”
by nicholas, newcastle under lyme
Friday, December 10 2010, 1:17AM
“It all makes perfect sense to me!.Typical British Snobbery and upper class politics deliberated.Divide us all from rich and poor and create a massive problem for those that dont qualify,then the crime rate goe's up,the drug dealing,the madness and all because no one as the intelligence to foresee the damage on effect of the out come of it all.I suggest for this Stupid Goverment to seek counciling from the great Buddha before it is to late.Shuks.?”
by Mick Penning, Newcastle, Staffs
Thursday, December 09 2010, 8:50PM
“Putting barriers in the way of people who are lucky enough to have a brain which can take on a University Degree Course, is the same as putting barriers in the way of people who are lucky enough to be powerfully built and physically strong who wish to utilise those assets in the best way possible.”
by Ash, Northwood
Thursday, December 09 2010, 7:51PM
“This is the Tory argument I can never quite fathom-
¿Incurring such a relatively small debt to pay for the huge economic benefit conferred by proper higher education is a fantastic deal. Over a lifetime, the direct financial benefit in higher earnings is around £400,000. Those who attend our best universities can expect to earn even more. Borrowing £21,000, at preferential rates, to secure twenty times that sum, is an offer you¿d have to be a fool to turn down.¿
Now if graduates typically earn an extra £400,000 over their lifetime, presumably they typically pay much more tax, make a much bigger contribution to the economy, and are much less reliant on state spending than non-graduates. The national piggy bank must surely swell by £100,000-plus as a result. So if there are people ¿fool¿ enough to turn down the offer of a degree costing, say, £40,000, the Government is foolish not to foolproof the system by making that £40,000 investment itself.
Since this is clearly not on the table, the only explanation left is that this is an ideologically-driven campaign by those who wish to see a return to an elitist, class-based higher education system based on the ability to pay rather than earn. In 2003 Michael Gove made this clear by saying:
¿Some people will, apparently, be put off applying to our elite institutions by the prospect of taking on a debt of this size. Which, as far as I¿m concerned, is all to the good.¿”
by Hannah, leeds
Thursday, December 09 2010, 6:38PM
“We should make a living by working hard and not going to University? Yes... because that makes perfect sense. Sorry if we want to get a PROPER job which requires a degree, such as teaching or medicine, and we don't want to be on minimum wage or the dole.”
by Lazarus, North Staffs
Thursday, December 09 2010, 6:28PM
“Students should not have to pay for tuition fees, there are twenty millionaires in that pratts cabinet including himself, and not one of them paid a penny in Tuition Fees, Labour introduced the fees which is correct, there is not one working class MP in this Government, and this shower aim to ensure that as few working class kids get the opportunities that wazacks like them had for free. They laughed in parliament at being referred to as Thatchers children they were right to laugh they are thatchers spawn, remember Thatcher the milk snatcher, these Tories are now rolling on.
How many students and parents of children about to qualify to go to university would vote Lib Dem or Tory now? Not many I would hazard, rue the day in May that these parasites were elected on a national euphoric backlash against Labour, so many euphemisms spring to mind, pan fire etc”
by Mick Penning, Newcastle, Staffs
Thursday, December 09 2010, 6:28PM
“ooops! Let's do this bit again.
Shouldn't take them as long to pay it back, as it will take today's graduates, because they (those in power) are already on top pay.”
by Mick Penning, Newcaste, Staffs
Thursday, December 09 2010, 6:22PM
“It is argued by those in Government, that a University Degree increases your chances of commanding a high salary, and therefore puts such people -with Degrees, at an advantage in the wage league.
So, why can't these people in power, many of whom have got to where they are by going to university and gaining a Degree, agree to pay back the cost of their own university education?
If they were to make that gesture, then perhaps their argument would be regarded with more respect.
A plan could be drawn up for them to be given several years to pay it back. Shouldn't take them as long as the as today's graduates, because they are already on top pay.
That sound fair to you? Reasonable?”
by dan, stoke
Thursday, December 09 2010, 5:59PM
“i understand the fustration of students wanting education for as less money as possible.
taxpayers will continue to fund education from primary to universitys.
people who work make sacrifices to pay the basics eg rent mortgage gas elec etc
so why is it students moan about having debts etc but yet will be out every other nite geting drunk?
students make sacrifices.... cut the expense of drink maybe a fter a 3 year course you might come out with debts of 15000 instead of 20000.
:-)”
by Anthony, Mount Pleasant
Thursday, December 09 2010, 5:45PM
“Pat,
You are spot on. There is a high percentage who go to Uni because it gives them another 3 years to mess about and not look for a career.
I fell into this trap. I left college and it was either go to uni or look for a job.
I honestly regret going to Uni because even though I graduated my degree has got me nowhere. There are too many courses that mean nothing and are just there to fill places for people who do bad in their A Levels.
If I could turn back the clock i'd have definitely done an apprentiship to become a tradesman instead of wasting my time and money doing a 2 bit degree and spending 3 years getting drunk with my mates.”