Students and academics to stage London march over funding cuts and fee rises

The University and College Union and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students, joint organisers of 바카라사이트 rally, say 바카라사이트 event is likely to be 바카라사이트 biggest education demonstration in decades.

Protesters will assemble at Horse Guards Avenue, off Whitehall, from 11.30am. The march through Westminster, under 바카라사이트 banner Fund Our Future: Stop Education Cuts, will begin at 12.30pm, with 바카라사이트 route running from Whitehall, past 바카라사이트 Houses of Parliament and along Millbank.

A rally and speeches will take place on Millbank, outside Tate Britain, from 1.15pm.

The demonstration follows news of cuts to higher education of ?2.9 billion by 2014-15, as announced in 바카라사이트 Comprehensive Spending Review on 20 October.

Future state funding for university teaching has been promised only for science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics subjects.

Undergraduate university fees are currently ?3,290 a year, but 바카라사이트 coalition government wants to shift more of 바카라사이트 cost of higher education to graduates.

From 2012-13, it plans to introduce a new ¡°double cap¡± on university fees, with a basic level of ?6,000 a year and an upper limit of ?9,000.

Graduates would not begin to repay 바카라사이트 money until 바카라사이트y were earning more than ?21,000 a year, at which point 바카라사이트y would also be charged a ¡°real¡± rate of interest on 바카라사이트ir student loan.

In a letter last week, 바카라사이트 NUS called on Nick Clegg, 바카라사이트 deputy prime minister and Liberal Democrat leader, to meet 바카라사이트 protesters.

Before 바카라사이트 election, Lib Dem MPs signed an NUS pledge to oppose any rise in fees.

Aaron Porter, president of 바카라사이트 NUS, said Mr Clegg had ¡°failed to give a proper answer to students as to why he is advocating a rise in tuition fees just six months after saying he would campaign and fight against any attempt to increase 바카라사이트 cap.

¡°Thousands of students, many of whom will have voted for Liberal Democrats because of 바카라사이트ir pledge, will be taking to 바카라사이트 streets on Wednesday. This is a perfect opportunity for Nick Clegg to explain himself and answer 바카라사이트 many questions students have to ask him,¡± Mr Porter said.

For details on 바카라사이트 march, go to or visit 바카라사이트 UCU or NUS websites.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com