Students protest against tuition fee hike in Britain

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Garima Mohan

11 December, 2010

In UK, thousands of students protested against the proposed tuition fee hike as the vote went to House of Commons in the parliament. The car in which Prince Charles and Camilla were travelling was also attacked during the protest.

THOUSANDS OF protesters came out on Thursday (December 9), openly against the proposed fee hike before the bill was to be passed in parliament in the United Kingdom. British government wants to hike the tuition fee three times the current fee as an austerity measure.

Furious protestors also attacked The Rolls Royce car in which Prince Charles along with his wife Camilla were going to London Palladium. At least seven people were arrested.

Some violent scenes were also witnessed during the protest. At least 12 police officers and 43 protesters got hurt. The protestors threw paint before breaking the windows of the royal car, but the royals were not harmed. This time the protest was violent which the government is condemning. Riots police was called as the protest become violent after the news of the vote in Parliament came out.

Protestors also attacked Oxford University and used fireworks, sticks and stones. The Christmas shoppers were caught in this protest and didn’t know what to do. Never have so many students or their supporters participated in such large numbers in a protest.

The Parliament was to decide on future of the hike and for the whole day, protesters were waiting outside the Parliament to know the result as it went to the Lower House for approval. The Lower House passed the vote with 323 votes against 302, only 21 votes less. Now, the Upper House, the House of Lords also has to pass this followed by Queen’s signature before it can become a proper law.

In UK, currently there is no tuition fee in schools and at University level, it is 4700 dollar which government wants to increase to 14000 dollar as the government feels these steps are necessary to cut the deficit. This can put a big pressure for middle class families and foreign students who are studying there. Many students from developing countries go there for higher studies and for these students and their families; the hike in the tuition fee will be a huge pressure. Those who are already half way, for them it will be all the more difficult.

In UK, the local students are not required to pay upfront; they can payoff their loans only once they start earning 32000 dollar per year. The students feel cheated by the Liberal Democratic Party as they voted for them and now they say the current government has lost their faith, they will never vote for this government again.