Aaron Porter has announced his intention to stand down as NUS President when his term ends in April. He claims he is proud of the achievements of the union during the tuition fees furore, but many students have been disappointed with his timid leadership. What next for the student movement?
As universities across the country debate appropriate levels of tuition fees, Aaron Porter, President of the National Union of Students, has angered protesters with his ‘soft stance’ by urging student leaders to engage in meaningful and specific discussion rather than continuing with general national protest.
Unemployment is at an all-time high, with young people twice as likely to be out of work as any other age group. As tuition fees rocket to £9000 and graduates face thousands of pounds worth of debt, we ask whether a university degree is really worth the money.
The marches go on, the slogans are chanted, the demonstrations continue; but is anybody listening? Is there any point in protest against a government who have made it very clear that the voices of their people are falling on very deaf ears indeed? What next for the student protest movement?
As a new wave of anti-tuition fees protests begins, a large-scale campaign has been launched to ban the police tactic of ‘kettling’ protesters. We look at the arguments against the police method of forced containment, and ask whether protesters are right to claim it breaches their fundamental human rights.
As the student movement picks up its placards for a renewed assault on the government’s tuition fees policy and education cuts, it risks being derailed by division in the ranks. Aaron Porter urges a considered, targeted campaign whilst the more radical activists want to fight on with protests and marches to have the policy revoked. Which is the right path for this new breed of student political activism?
As the government votes against reinstating the axed Education Maintenance Allowance, we consider the arguments on both sides, and ask what impact the cuts will really have on underpriveleged pupils. Can the government justify its claim that an enormous £500 million of funding should be withdrawn from support for sixth-form college attendees?
As the government considers changing the timing of A-level examinations to allow students to apply for university with their actual (rather than predicted) results, we consider the pros and cons of the new scheme, including claims that it would be beneficial for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds.
