NUS calls for 'walk-out' protest by students

The National Union of Students (NUS) has called for a national walkout of students on 14 March 2012 to protest the on-going cuts to education and public services.

The walkout is to be the pinnacle of a week of action taking place from 12-16 March.

In a statement to student leaders Liam Burns, President of NUS UK explained that: “Students will boycott lectures and instead get involved in local on campus activities to demonstrate their opposition to the coalition government’s plans to destroy our higher education system.”

The planned action is the latest in a long line of NUS sanctioned opposition to the coalition government’s plans to cut the economic deficit which by proxy has led to education cuts and a rise in tuition fees for students.

In a press release NUS UK President Liam Burns stated: ““The coalition government may have shied away from making its plans clear in an HE Bill, but the fight to stop them from selling off our education goes on.

“The walkout on March 14 will be part of a wider week of action and ahead of a mass lobby of parliament in April.”

Robin Parker, President of NUS Scotland, voiced his support for the action stating that NUS Scotland will be endorsing the action south of the border. In a statement seen by ‘The Journal’ Mr Parker says: “it’s absolutely right that students south of the border are mobilising against the coalition government’s plans to privatise higher education.

“Not only are students there being priced out of education with £9000 fees, but the costs of education continue to rise with addition of course costs which make studies during a period of high unemployment that much more difficult”

NUS Scotland stopped short of announcing a walk-out of its own but pledged to “find our own way to best support the work of our counterparts in the rest of the UK”.

The walkout will be extended to all universities and it is hoped the campaign will continue against government cuts to education despite claims by the coalition government that these measures are vital in ensuring a reduction in the financial deficit.