Following last week’s announcement over changes to student fees and minimum university entry requirements, yesterday thousands of students from across the UK walked out of education in the National Union of Students (NUS) student strike.
Around 700 students in Bloomsbury, London were joined by hundreds more students in Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield. Those in attendance were united by their opposition to attacks on students’ opportunities and in reimagining a fairer system.
Speaking at the strike, NUS Vice-President for Higher Education Hillary Gyebi-Ababio said:
“We have stood against war and apartheid, campaigned to bring security and cleaners in-house, demanded funded mental health support, stood shoulder to shoulder with striking staff, fought against zero hour contracts, forced universities to take action on sexual violence, made changes in housing law.
“We have organised, decolonised, occupied, and divested. But this is only the beginning. Today, let’s send a message loud and clear – from Torrington Square to the corridors of Whitehall – students are here to take back what’s ours.
“As we are being priced out of our future and locked out of education by a racist, classist, ableist government, we are here to say no more. Never again will students be made to feel unsafe on their own campuses, exploited for rent, and left to work jobs on insecure contracts”.
Fraser Amos, a Masters student at Goldsmiths University who attended the strike, said:
“The student strike filled me with energy and hope. It was incredible to see students come down to london from different regions and nations across the country, and it was a reminder that if we organise we can win a free, decolonised, democratised education.
“Walking out of university on the same day that UCU staff walked out for their latest day of strike action was a reminder that our struggle, our working and learning conditions are shared.”
©️ NUS. 2022.
About NUS UK
The National Union of Students (NUS) is a confederation of 600 student’s unions across England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. Through our members we represent, campaign on behalf of and support the interests of more than seven million students.
Working with more than 95 per cent of all higher and further education students’ unions across the UK our main purpose is to defend, promote and extend the rights of students to make a real difference to their educational experience. Our goal is a country where everyone can access and thrive in education regardless of their background, and a society where students are valued as active citizens.
As education policy is devolved in the UK, we deliver our democratic and student voice activities through NUS UK and our nation-based teams in NUS Scotland, NUS Wales and NUS-USI.
Through our teams in NUS Services and NUS Charity we help member students’ unions develop and build effective students’ unions for all learners. Working with commercial partners, such as Endsleigh and OneVoice, we ensure students’ money is reinvested back in the student movement. Our charity partner SOS UK delivers our award-winning sustainability campaigns, including Green Impact, Student Switch Off and Divert-Invest. www.nus.org.uk