30th November 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
This week thousands of students are marching through London to protest the rising costs of education. The protest, organised by the National Union of Students, is directed at challenging the changes that have been made to school and university funding. The protesters are highlighting the devastating effect of cuts to education, and the fact that young people now face more barriers than ever as they move through school and onto university.
The NUS have published a survey which suggests that voters remain outraged at Lib Dem MPs who reneged on their promise not to raise tuition fees. The protest is intended to have a political impact, by making clear the challenges that students will now face as a result of cuts, and highlighting in particular the cut of the education maintenance allowance which helped students stay in school after the age of 16.
A spokesperson from Unison, speaking at the march, said that the cuts had meant many young people were put off going to university because of the enormous cost. He pointed out that the loss of the Education Maintenance Allowance has cause some to drop out of school altogether, and said that the march should also highlight the general lack of opportunities for young people, including the rise is joblessness.