NUS calls for walkouts over ‘under the radar’ reforms

February 2, 2012
Josiah Mortimer

Last year’s student protests appeared to have paid off last week when David Willetts, Universities Minister, in a dramatic policy reversal, withdrew from Parliament the Higher Education Bill.

The surprise move came just a day after Mark Bergfeld, who sits on the National Union of Students (NUS) Executive, launched a petition calling on the NUS to plan a national demonstration in the autumn term against the bill.

The petition had already gathered support from other NUS executive members, notably Aaron Kiely and Ruby Hirsch.

Despite the withdrawal of the bill, the NUS has called for a ‘Week of Action’ over fears that major reforms will still go ahead without legislative scrutiny. In a statement, the NUS said it fears the expansion of private sector involvement in education will be “implemented under the radar.”

Liam Burns, NUS President, said “students will not stand idly by as their education is diminished…without any Parliamentary mandate.”
The NUS suspects sweeping education changes, like the rise in tuition fees, could be passed without primary legislation.

However, speaking to Nouse, Bergfeld said “the government has clearly lost confidence” in its reform plans, but the main changes “are still going to go ahead.” He praised the NUS’ decision to organise a week of action saying “it will enable the student movement to get back onto the streets” after the NUS had originally “positioned itself to be the broker of the [HE Bill’s] regime.”

The ‘Week of Action’ is set to run from the 12th to the 16th of March and action across campuses nationwide is expected, although the date of national student walkouts is yet to be confirmed.

Anti-fees groups cautiously welcomed the abandonment of the bill, with the Education Activist Network calling it a “partial victory” though claiming “the chaotic and haphazard dismantling of the existing university system continues.”

The government has found itself under increasing pressure recently to abandon its most radical plans for the NHS, welfare reform and higher education, much of which seeks to expand the role of the market in services.

David Willetts’ short-term defeat in the withdrawal of his HE Bill may not be reflected in the long-term decisions taken by ministers.

Nouse.co.uk is powered by WordPress. Designed and developed by Andrew Fairbairn, Jonathan Frost and the Nouse technical team.