Students told to take a Hike

 

On December 9th 2010 most students in the UK were doing two things, worrying about their school work and then also worrying how much their going to pay for it. The government was working in parliament to pass a bill on University tuition fees. As the night fell and the Vote was passed with 323 to 302 against the streets of London around Parliament turned into a battleground.

 

Some of the victims of the descending chaos was not only the protestors charged by mounted officers or the police ground units under a rain of missiles but even Prince Charles fell victim as his car was attacked as he passed through the protest zone.

The protest that was rallied by the University and Collage Union, and National Union of Students saw thousands of protests from all ages descend on London against the hike in the Tuition fees. The main point of contention was the scrapping of the tuition cap, previously set at 3290 Pounds ($5198 approx) to 9000 pounds ($14220). The actual changes however are a little more complicated.

 

Inspired by the Browne Report (Former BP chief Lord Browne) on Higher Education he advocated completely removing caps on tuition fees. The Bill however sets the cap at 9000 and any University wanting to charge over 6000 will have to offer bursaries etc to encourage lower incomes to attend. The Loan threshold where grads have to begin paying back the loan will be raised to 21 thousand from 15 (Grads paying %9 of income above threshold) however and if it isn’t paid after 30 years will be scrapped. The Office for Fair Access what NUS called ‘toothless’ is to be giver oversight of the Universities charging over 6000. Grants will increase however the income cut off will be dropped by 8000 and tapered at the end. Over all the changes are expected to save the bottom quarter of students a little but the top earning graduates paying nearly double current numbers, this is coupled with almost 10% more paid back than originally owed under the new Interest system.

 

The system would come into affect in September 2012, which may explain why so many highschoolers made it out to the protest in London. The capital protests were met up and down the nation in every major city, Cambridge has seen significant trouble with protests and sit-ins occurring, there has also been condemnation by Labour Unions and international Student Unions. In Canada the CFS (Canadian Federation of Students) has been following it closely with the “F**k Fees Campaign” co-operation. The Vote has had a distinct cost however, 21 Liberal Democrat MP rebelled against their party leaders, two of them resigning Ministerial Aid posts in protest. The Conservatives also saw six rebellious votes and one resignation. In what Ed Milliband from the Labour party called a “Sad day for Democracy” that has ruined the trust and faith in not only the Liberal Democrats (Who had pledged to all vote against increases) but in politicians as a whole.

 

The Tuition fee increases has caused a viscous divide in the already fragmented Lib-Dem’s who are already seen as the fall guys for the Tory party. But the wide spread reneging on the pre-election pledge but numerous Lib-Dem MP’s has lead to harsh criticism and a promised retaliation by the Student Unions. Needless to say things are just beginning. The next stage is further protests as the Bill moves onto the House of Lords.