Fight for free education and make the 1% pay
Socialist Students marching for free education, 2016, photo Isai Priya (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Socialist Students has launched a petition to build support for its demands on the way forward for the student movement and to solve the crisis in higher education. The petition demands:
- Rent refunds for students. For 100% rent refunds for any student unable to move into their halls for any reason, with the money for those refunds made up for by the government
- For the right of students in third-party accommodation or the private rented sector to be released from their contracts. Compensation to the landlords only on the basis of proven need
- For rent controls! Bring all third party halls into the ownership and control of the universities, as a step towards democratically set rents, decided on by elected committees including students
- Refund our tuition fees – this year and every year! Fight for free education and make the 1% pay for it
- For a no-detriment policy to be introduced for assessments affected by the lockdown
- End all cuts! No attacks on jobs, wages, and conditions on campus to pay for refunds – make the government pay. For student and staff unity against all cuts on campus
- For democratic trade union and student oversight of all health and safety measures taken on campus to stop the spread of the virus – no trust in vice-chancellors, management or the Tories to handle this crisis in our interests
- Build a national student movement to fight for the funding our universities need. Scrap tuition fees, cancel student debt, and introduce genuine living grants for students. Fight for fully funded, high-quality and free education
