All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Socialist Students
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Socialist Students - Students - Protest - Socialist - Education
Students in action: Protest on 21 April
Photo: Socialist Party Wales (Click to enlarge)
Michael Morgan, Socialist Students national chair
During the past academic year students have gone through a radically changed learning environment, at great cost. There has been no reduction in already extortionate tuition fees and, in most cases, no reduction in rents.
Student mental health services are still inadequate, and our job prospects once we graduate are the least promising they've been since the 2008-09 financial crash. Capitalism has failed us again and again.
However, we have fought back. Last summer, A-level students led the way with the fight against a flawed and class-biased awarded exam results and won victories. Students have also been involved with the anti-racist Black Lives Matter protests, as well as rent strikes.
Kill the Bill
More recently, we've been part of the 'Kill the Bill' democratic rights protests, and protests against sexual harassment and violence - including the sit-in protest at Warwick University.
Socialist Students has been to the fore in these struggles, including in Swansea, Bangor and Plymouth where our members have been organising rent strikes.
We have consistently called for an immediate refund of tuition fees for the year for all students, paid for by the government, as the first step towards abolishing them and cancelling all student debt. We have also demanded a refund for unused student accommodation, taking university halls of residence back in-house, stopping evictions, ending poor housing, and to protect rent strikers. Socialist Students has called a day of action on 21 April over these issues.
While the National Union of Students has come out in support for some of these movements, a lack of real, determined leadership is apparent.
We need a democratic and fighting national students' union. A union which calls for an end to the marketisation of education now, and which mobilises to change the unacceptable learning conditions at universities. Through rent concessions and the A-level protests of last summer, we know that if we fight, we can win, so it is important that we do this!
Ultimately, we must fight to end the system which has allowed these conditions to arise. Capitalism seeks to make education a profitable product rather than a pursuit for knowledge. Commercialisation has undermined staff working conditions as well as our learning and living conditions, and will continue to do so for as long as it is profitable.
We stand for free education, better housing and living conditions - join the fightback and join Socialist Students.
- Click here for a leaflet promoting the day of action
- For details of protests contact Socialist Students.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999