NUS to escalate opposition to education cuts

Up to 20,000students will take part in a national demonstration in London next month to protest against funding cuts to further and higher education.

The ‘fund our future’ demonstration is expected to mobilise students from across the country in anticipation of funding cuts worth £1.8 billion to the government’s adult skills department.

The coalition government has announced that it will ask each department to reduce its budget by at least 25 per cent. It is thought that the adult skills budget, which covers university and college education, will face a cut of 40 per cent.

The reductions could result in overcrowded lecture theatres, course being scrapped, staff redundancies and less money for student support.

The protest, organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) and University and College Union (UCU), will be held on Wednesday 10 November.

Sally Hunt, General Secretary of UCU, said: “At this most challenging time for our students, for our members and for our movement we must act.”

The march will also raise concerns about the prospect of higher tuition fees and the increasing privatisation of the education sector.

It is feared that fees of over £7,000 a year would be necessary in order to compensate for the loss of government funding. After 200,000 students missed out on a place at university this year, apprehension has risen that access to university will become increasingly linked to financial status.

Hugh Murdoch, regional demonstration organiser for Lothian, told The Journal: “We will be fighting the cuts together. This will affect everyone right across Britain, so anyone can get involved. We need to ensure the politicians are held to account and recognise the importance of education for the future of our country.

“Imagine 40 per cent less books in the library, 40 per cent less contact time with tutors, 40 per cent less resources in your school. This is how much these budget cuts will affect students’ every day life.”

Local action days have been held in various parts of the UK in the run up to the demonstration, including a series of meetings at the NUS Scotland offices in Edinburgh to plan and co-ordinate the Scottish involvement.

Students’ associations from universities around Scotland will be fundraising in the coming weeks in order to provide free transport for students to attend the demonstration.