26th November 2010 9:00
By Harriet Boulding
On Weds 24th Novemeber the 2nd day of scheduled student protests took place in opposition to the dramatic higher education funding cuts. It is thought that over 130,000 students staged various forms of protest across the country, including occupations, school and university walk-outs, mass letter writing and demonstrations. In London, school children made up the majority of the demonstrators who took to the streets, leaving school without permission in order to take part.
The overwhelming message from those interviewed was one of desperation, with many articulating the feeling that they have no future. Wednesday's protesters had specific concerns, namely that they will not be able to afford to go to university, and that even if they do, they will be saddled with crippling debt by the time they are 22 year old. This is an extremely bleak outlook for students who have their whole lives ahead of them. Whilst the majority of protesters remained peaceful, a minority of school children began to attack police vehicles and graffiti the surrounding area. They stopped only to articulate to nearby journalists the disillusionment felt by many.
It is worth noting that, whilst those in higher education may have the language and experience to express their political views, school age children have been thus far completely disenfranchised from political decisions surrouding the cuts. Those who will apply to university next year are not old enough to vote, and there has been a complete lack of information and advice made available to them about the realistic options available to them.If we are to present a united front in a bid to preserve higher education in this country it is necessary to work with our country's youth, who are currently staring into a black hole without the information or advice they need.