Student leaders warn against more debt

A letter from a broad range of leading student representatives – including several NUS Officers and executive members – says the debate over the future of higher education funding should not focus solely on how to make students pay more.

The letter was first published by Liberal Conspiracy: http://bit.ly/9uCfdl

It comes ahead of tomorrow’s Browne Education Funding Review recommendations.

The letter

A government review into university funding will soon make its recommendations.

So far the debate has been totally one sided – focusing almost exclusively on how to make people pay even more for receiving a university education. Some in the Coalition government favour making people pay more through a graduate tax whilst others back higher fees of up to £7,000 per year.

With student debt already averaging £23,000, the idea that the cost of a university degree should increase further is absurd.

There are progressive alternatives to funding higher education which would tackle student debt and help Britain create the highly skilled economy it needs – rather than slipping further down international league tables of university participation as it currently is.

To this end, we welcome the UCU’s contribution to the debate, proposing that tuition fees be replaced by an increase in corporation tax.

We demand that the Coalition government uses the review to reduce the burden on students – not as an opportunity to increase these costs.”

Signed

Kanja Sesay, NUS Black Students’ Officer
Vicki Baars, NUS LGBT Officer
Fiona Edwards, Free Education Campaign
Joshi Sachdeo, NUS National Executive Council (NEC)
Rebecca Sawbrigde, Disabled Students’ Rep, NUS NEC
Sean Rillo Raczka, NUS NEC
Neelam Rose, NUS Black Students’ Committee
Cameron Tait, President of the University of Sussex SU
Helen Wakeford, President of University of Glamorgan Union
Kristy Wallace, President of University of Exeter SU, Cornwall Campus
Rosie Tressler, Women’s Officer, Nottingham University
Greg Brown, Environment & Ethics Officer of University College London Union
Aaron Kiely, NUS Black Students’ Committee
Beth Evans, NUS LGBT Campaign
Laura Ions, Communications Officer of Swansea Metropolitan University
Muhammad Sadi, Vice-President, London Metropolitan University Students’ Union
Dan Morgan, Campaigns Officer for Swansea Metropolitan University
Claire Flanagan, Vice President of University of Ulster Student Union
Jonathan Holmes, Liberation Officer, University of Lincoln Students’ Union
Sam Middlewood, Vice President of Brunel University Students Union
Andy McGowan, Funding Officer of Cambridge University Students’ Union
Mensur Burhan, Vice President Welfare and Students’ Rights, London South Bank University Student Union
Emma Wilson, Vice President Education & Welfare of University of Plymouth Students’ Union
Sol Schonfield, Communications Officer of the University of Sussex SU
Elaine Griffiths, Welfare Officer of Coleg Morgannwg
Rosanna Robinson, NUS Black Students’ Campaign, Further Education Representative
Zoe Scandrett, Women’s Officer of Kent University Union
Liam Walker, Student Life Officer of University of Cumbria SU
Oli Luton, Healthcare Integration Officer of Cardiff Students Union