Students on the march

Adam Hewitt • Published 9 Dec 2010 09:30 Comments 1 Comment

See also:

HUNDREDS of students and campaigners from Reading are making their way to London this morning for the final protest against proposed changes to tuition fees before MPs vote.

Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) said it opposed cuts to higher education funding and the proposal to lift the cap on tuition fees to £6,000 and in some cases £9,000.

They have been lobbying Reading East MP Rob Wilson to vote 'no'. On Friday they handed over 400 letters to his constituency office spelling out students' opposition to the changes, and yesterday (Wednesday) dumped 'bags of debt' at Reading Town Hall to symbolise the plight of future students. Mr Wilson, a former shadow higher education minister and RUSU president, is committed to voting for the changes.

They hope to lobby him, as well as Reading West MP Alok Sharma and Wokingham MP John Redwood, ahead of the vote and also plan to join the NUS rally against fees and a candlelit vigil.

RUSU president Jess Lazarczyk said: "We want to send a final strong message to MPs before the parliamentary vote on the future of Higher Education."

Nes Cazimoglu, RUSU's vice president in charge of democracy and campaigns, added: "All we want for Christmas is a no vote!"

Ian Bland, Reading University branch chairman of the lecturers' University and College Union (UCU), said: "It is essential we raise awareness about the impact of the Government's higher education reforms."

The UCU has estimated that Reading University would need to set fees at £6,561 a year to break even because of the Government cuts to teaching grants. Thames Valley University would have to charge £7,598, the third highest amount in the country.

MPs are expected to vote by 5.30pm. A number of Lib Dems and Tories have pledged to vote against the measures, but the Coalition Government is thought to have the votes to push the changes through.

This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 09 Dec 10

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

Studentgal
Unregistered User
Dec 16, 10:27
Report comment

Higher Education should be a right not a privilige to those who achieve good enough grades to get a place on their chosen degree course, we should not have to pay the earth for a good education. Its not fair. The government needs to rethink this whole issue. I undesrtand the economic mess we are in but to raise tuition fees to such a high cost is ridiculous.

Recommend? Yes 0 No 0

Return to the main index, get more from this section or browse our News archives.

Follow @rdgchronicle