Student Broad Left- Education Funding

Student Broad Left
Free Education

CAMPAIGNING FOR FREE, EQUAL AND ACCESSIBLE EDUCATION

The government has allocated £100 million for HE in the national spending review. The money represents £395 million more 2001-02 than in 2000-01 and is a 4.6 per cent real terms rise. It should be stressed that - although over 4% sounds a lot - this is a percentage rise from an extremely low level. The money represents the first real terms increase in cash per student for more than a decade (up to 1 per cent for 2001-02 - depending on the number of students). There had been fears of a 3 per cent cut. The Spending settlements for 2003-04 are yet to be announced. The CVCP and teaching unions are concerned because this leaves the way open for the threatened cut after the general election, paving the way for top-up fees.

The settlement includes:

  • £50 million for improving pay for high fliers i.e. not for general salary increases. The CVCP and teaching unions are disappointed. They wanted £500 million to implement the Bett recommendations on pay and conditions - especially for equal pay for women academics and to bring academic pay in line with comparable professions.
  • £20 million for widening access - no more detail available yet, but it is not nearly enough to re-introduce grants to the level before the teaching and higher education act.
  • £30 million for e-universities and vocational foundation degrees. See Times Higher for more detail

    Student debt and falling applications

    The second year of tuition fees is reaching its end. Universities are owed increasing amounts of money from students who have not paid their tuition fees. Stronger sanctions are being developed by universities to claw back the money including: students not able to graduate, use facilities. Manchester Met is moving to make academics involved in debt collection by refusing to teach students who are in the red.

    Overall applications to university across Britain are down by 0.4 per cent on last year. The number of mature student (over 21s) applications is down 1.3 per cent on last year. The fall is greater (2.1 per cent) amongst over 25s.

    In Scotland applications are up by 2.1 per cent following the abolition of fees (endowment contributions have not been introduced yet) indicating that applications - contrary to government assertions - are directly linked to how much students have to pay for their education.

    There is an increase in numbers of students studying from home or taking a year out to raise money. One in 14 students now take a year out - an increase of 2.5 per cent on last year (THES 12.7.00). One in six students starting a full time course this autumn will stay at home (UCAS). Up 2.3 per cent on last year. (THES 12.7.00)

    The fight for free education

    There has been a change in the balance of forces on the NUS NEC. This is a result of a combination of factors: a) Labour Students were completely discredited for their complicit role in introducing the T&HE Act and thus could not stand for President of NUS. b) The 'United for Education - Free and Equal' slate that was created was the broadest and strongest in years and posed a real threat to the right of NUS and their project of delivering students to the Labour Government. c) The slate meant an overall strengthening of the votes for left candidates.

    This has resulted in a unanimous vote on the NEC for a national 'Grants not Fees' demonstration (see NEC report).
    Having been forced to support the Priority Campaign funding paper Labour Students and right wing independents are now attempting to suppress student opposition to the government in the run up to the general election by undermining the national demonstration.

  • After the NEC meeting, Owain James sent out a fax reporting the unity of the NEC over calls for targeted grants with no reference to the national 'grants not fees' demonstration.
  • At national convention the focus of the education funding debate was Cubie and FE. Priority campaigns were REPRIORITISED, placing 'Modernisation' of NUS as the number one priority over the 'Enough is enough - grants not fees' campaign.
  • The right had been organising to locate the demonstration outside London. A campaign to call for a yes vote for the demonstration to be in London gained wide support and undermined attempts to have the demonstration outside London.
  • However, the ballot paper stated 'please indicate if your executive committee are in favour of actively supporting a national march against top-up fees'.
  • Support for a national demonstration was overwhelming: ninety-five per cent of student unions voted in favour of the demonstration.
  • Maximum support for the demonstration, set for 15th November, is now necessary.

    See All out for 'Grants not Fees' from our latest newsletter

    Broad Left's Aims and objectives      Broad Left's NEC Report 30.6.2000

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