Students in fees rise protest

FEES protest . . . pictured with their petition are (front, from left) Olefunke Babalola, Abimbola Jelugbo, and Raja Raza

University students held a day of action in Oldham to protest about rises in tuition fees.

They gathered at University Centre Oldham, part of Huddersfield University, with a “Wall of Debt” display and a petition.

An independent commission is going to review the current tuition fees this year so the Students’ Union created the wall to show the crippling levels of debt students are currently finding themselves in.

Students across the country are calling on the Government to create a fairer funding system and abolish the top-up fees system.

The Students’ Union campaigns’ officer, Junaid Ejaz, said: “After the increase in tuition fees starting in 2006, students have already been struck with spiralling debts.

“In today’s financial climate, introducing top-up fees is only going to cripple students. We have put wall of debt which shows that an average student has got £20,000 in loans.

“Students can hardly pay the current tuition fees. The rise in fees could shut the doors for students from working class and poor backgrounds bringing higher education back to the days of university being for the rich only.

“We are making the demand that the Government keep tuition fees capped, especially in the current period of recession.”