Student Protests-what now?

Last year, fifty thousand people, not just students, were so moved to protest against cuts to higher education and an increase in fees that they took to the streets. The police retaliated with force, and the heir to the throne was attacked. But what happens now? Can we still afford to go to university? Is it even worth the money?

The Essentials:

• Fees will rise from £3,290 to up to £9,000 in September 2012.

• Universities charging over £6,000 will have to prove they attract enough students from poorer backgrounds.

• Students receiving free school meals could get the first two years of their degree paid for.

• Grants will be given to students from households earning £42,000 or less, not £50,000 as it is currently.

• Graduates will pay 9% of their income towards their student loan each month if they earn £21,000 or more.

• If student debt is not paid off in 30 years, it will be wiped

• Teaching budgets could be cut by up to 80%.

To put it bluntly, those in Year 12 or below or Year 13s taking a YouTube-inspired ‘gap yah’ are likely to come out of university with debts close to £38,000 when fees rise in 2012. But will they ever go down again? It looks like students will have to scrimp and save even more from now on.


So, what now?
It seems we have three options: continue to protest, turn to more extreme methods, or just give in and accept higher fees.
Whilst I am never an advocate of violence, I can see why people are frustrated by the lack of media attention given to the majority of protests which were peaceful. Students from University College, London staging a sit-in were branded as lazy for focusing on gaining support through Facebook rather than smashing up their campus. But, if we follow the Suffragettes and get angry to make MPs listen, how long until we have student martyrs, killed for trying to go to university? Is it really worth it?


Taking the moral high ground
There’s no doubt that we should continue to protest, but in a way that shows us to be the mature and thoughtful people we are. The events of 2010 frustratingly lived up to all the stereotypes of teenagers and lost the cause a lot of respect. We need to prove to the doubters, to the MPs and the older generation that what they call ‘teenage angst’ or ‘hooliganism’ is a real passion for education and fairness-we're not just being yobs. We can use our technology addiction and youthful energy to get attention in a positive way. Let’s take the moral high ground and surprise people.


Don’t give up on your dreams
I know, I know, cheesy! But, the most important thing is not to abandon your education. Some may see it as giving in and accepting a rise in fees, but if you want to go to university badly enough, go! Some may wonder why it’s worth paying so much to go in the first place, if you’re not even guaranteed a job in our dodgy economic climate. But, the word ‘education’ literally means ‘to bring out potential’. University is not about ‘paying’ to get a good job; it’s about studying something you really enjoy: knowledge for knowledge’s sake. It broadens your mind, you become independent; you meet people from so many different backgrounds; try amazing new things.


I want to study History, a subject with which you can do everything-and at the same time nothing. I have a list as long as my arm of jobs that I definitely don’t want to do but little idea of where my degree will take me. And that, readers, is the beauty of university, college, whatever. You don’t need to have a set plan; you develop as a person over your three years. And if there are no jobs, well, you can always resort to academia and become a professor. It may well be my back-up plan.


So, here is my advice, which you are welcome to ignore, but it’s here it all the same. Don’t let money put you off pursuing something you really love. Loans can be paid off, debts wiped, but a chance to live and study away from home with other like-minded people is an opportunity we should grab with both hands if we possibly can.