Tuesday 20th July

The Coalition government is considering whether to charge students more for higher education through a graduate tax.

Student Respect believes that any system that sees higher charges should be opposed.

Shamefully the National Union of Students has 'welcomed' Vince Cable's calls for a graduate tax that would see students paying more.

In contrast, the UCU's response was excellent. They labelled Cable's moves to support a graduate tax as an "exercise in rebanding" and rejected any plans that would see students pay more for their education.

The Free Education Campaign has issued a very good response to the Vince Cable's announcement which can be read here: http://bit.ly/9W2YxQ

Salma Yaqoob's response: 'Education is a right, not a privelege'

I received a free university education, as did most of the politicians now pulling up the drawbridge behind them as they look for more ways to turn education into a privilege and not a right. For myself, and millions of others, a university education was made possible by a society that valued higher and continuing education, and was willing to invest in it.

Increasingly education is treated as little more than a commodity; to be snapped up by those most able to pay. Bit by bit, the principle of free education has been replaced by the notion that students are ‘consumers’ who should pay for the benefit they get from studying.

The new ConDem government is now considering plans for a graduate tax. It is being sold on the basis that the graduate nurse or care worker should not be expected to pay the same as a graduate city banker. But that is something that could, and should, be achieved through the tax system generally. The better off should pay proportionally more of their income in tax, and those tax receipts should be used to finance a world-class system of higher education.

Instead, the new government is effectively scrapping the target that 50% of 18-30 year olds should be educated to degree level, and seeking to shift the financial burden more and more towards individual students. It is a lowering of ambition that will not even pay its way economically.

Before tuition fees were introduced in 1998 the UK was among OECD countries for the level participation in higher education. It has now dropped to 15th. This is not the way to develop an economy based on high-technology sectors; one that demands a high education and skills base.

Increasing investment in free higher education would be good for students, the economy, and for society as a whole. Shifting the financial burden to individual students will reduce participation in education, widen the gap between rich and poor, and do nothing to rebuild our economy.

For a long period now, higher education policy has just had the result of steadily increasing the cost of going to university. It is time to put that process into reverse and make a university education affordable for all.

Student Respect welcomes the news that London Metropolitan University's disgraced Board of Governors this week agreed to resign in the face of massive opposition. Hundreds of people attended a demonstration on Tuesday to demand an end to the reckless mismanagement of the Governors, which has brought the university to the brink of collapse and led to the threat of severe job losses and course closures.

Commenting on the news, Abjol Miah, Respect's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, where many London Met students live, said:
"This is great news for all of us who wanted to see justice done at London Met University. I want to applaud the staff, trade unions and students who united to defend their university at this critical time. I hope that following today London Met recovers from this management crisis to once again offer a reputation for excellence that serves the whole community."

Student Respect backs the UCU lecturers' union demand that the governors should be forced out now, not next summer as has been announced. London Met needs fresh leadership as soon as possible so that students can have confidence that their university is on its way back up.

We also condemn the excessive and unwarranted police aggression at Tuesday's demonstration that left many people bruised and shook up. We have a right to protest to defend our education without fear of violence from the police.

London Metropolitan University may be forced to close after a stand off between the government and the board of governors.

Councillor Abjol Miah, Respect prospective parliamentary candidate for Bethnal Green and Bow, has expressed his dismay at this threat.

"An authoritative report from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) has declared that Londion Met was overpaid as a result of a deliberate act of deception," said Councillor Abjol miah.

"Those responsible must be held to account. However the two groups of people who are entirely innocent in this debacle are the students and the staff. Yet their future is now in serious jeopardy. Not only that but the very future of a university which has provided the opportunity from many from a less privileged background to pursue higher education is in question."

"The government must act to secure the future of this university which boasts many excellent and presitigious courses and departments. They have bailed out the banks to the tune of tens of billions of pounds. A fraction of that money would secure the future of an institution that, unlike the City casino, performs not only a useful but an essential public service."

"I will be attending the emergency student union meeting this evening to pledge my support and the support fo the Respect Party to the students and staff who are threatened."

George Galloway, speaking from Bangladesh, pledged to work with his parliamentary colleague Jeremy Corbyn to urge the government to secure the future of the university.

Student Respect urges supporters to attend the PROTEST FOR THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS TO RESIGN - TUESDAY 15th DECEMBER at 4pm - Moorgate Building, London Met University.