THE NEW Labour government is about to publish its Bill on
top-up tuition fees. The Bill was delayed because over 150 Labour MPs signed a
motion in opposition.
They’ve come under pressure from the millions of people who
don’t want a higher education system where the rich, who can pay, get the best
education while poorer students, faced with thousands of pounds worth of debts,
are put off from going to university or forced onto cheap courses that they
don’t really want.
There is widespread anger at the hypocrisy of New Labour
MPs, most of whom benefited from a free education, who are now pulling the
ladder up and denying working-class students a decent future.
Desperate
As well as sunning himself in Egypt, Tony Blair has spent
the past few weeks desperately trying to come up with a deal that will buy off
rebel Labour MPs.
There is talk of a complicated ‘package’ that will give
poorer students financial help of up to £3,000 a year.
But even if this materialises, it will still mean students
leaving university with massive debts. The average cost of essentials such as
food and accommodation outside London is around £7,000 a year!
And it will still mean the introduction of the ‘market’
into higher education. At some stage the £3,000 cap on tuition fees will be
lifted and students could face fees in the future of £5,000, £10,000 or even
£15,000 a year.
Elite
That’s what the elite universities and big business want to
see and these are the people that Blair and New Labour represent.
While some Labour MPs will wobble, it’s not guaranteed that
Blair will win the vote on top-up fees in Parliament (expected at the end of
the month).
Socialist Students and the Socialist Party will be keeping
up the pressure through lobbies of MPs, protests and demonstrations. We urge
everyone to join our campaign against tuition fees and for a free education.
But top-up fees are just one more example of how New Labour
is tied to big business and the profit system. Education, health, transport
-the market is permeating all of our public services and it’s working people
who pay the price.
That’s why in 2004 we will be redoubling our efforts to
build a socialist alternative to New Labour and the capitalist system which
they defend.
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No to top-up fees and no to a graduation tax
-
Scrap all tuition fees
-
A living grant for all students
