13
years after declaring that New Labour’s priorities were "education,
education, education", it seems that the government has a new mantra of
"cuts, cuts, cuts". On the 18th March, it was announced that funding
for universities would be slashed by £573 million, representing a cut
of 7.3%. The budget cut is the first time higher
education (HE) funding has been reduced since New Labour came power,
and is a threat not only to students, but also to academic staff and
other university workers, who are facing the prospect of large job
cuts. Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and Colleges
Union (UCU) summed up the situation by saying, "After
years of rightly encouraging people to go to university, the government
is abandoning a generation who, instead of benefiting from education,
will find themselves on the dole alongside sacked teaching staff."
These
cuts, however, may only be the tip of the iceberg. The Institute for
Fiscal Studies predicts that there will be further cuts of £1.6 billion
in the coming years, with a total reduction of £2.5 billion in the HE
budget by 2013. London universities, such as London Metropolitan
University, University College of London (UCL), Kings College London
(KCL), and the University
of the Arts London (UAL), will be particularly affected, with the UCU
predicting over 2,000 job losses across universities in London.
Politicians
have attempted to paint a picture of inevitability in terms of the HE
funding cuts, saying that there is no other option given the current
budget deficit. However, a recent report by the Guardian has revealed
that whilst students face the prospect of rising tuition fees, the
heads of universities are laughing all the way to the bank. The report
found that more than 80 university heads "earn" over £200,000 per year,
with 19 vice-chancellors receiving more than £300,000. The Guardian
figures show that some vice-chancellors were given pay rises of between
15 to 20% in 2008/09, whilst Andrew Likierman, head of the London
Business School, is the lucky recipient of £474,000, with a wage
increase of 78% over the last 10 years. If the government wishes to
reduce the amount it spends on universities, it should begin by
removing these unelected, unaccountable officials, and replacing them
with a committee of democratically elected delegates, composed of
students, lecturers, and university workers.
Despite
the revelations of the Guardian report, university officials across the
country have still got the audacity to claim that tuition fees should
rise, with the honorary head of Oxford University simultaneously
claiming that the current fees of £3,225 per year are "preposterously
low", but that the £327,000 salary for the vice-chancellor is
completely justifiable. Meanwhile, universities are sacking support
staff, leaving lecturers and academics to do administrative tasks,
resulting in larger class sizes and a fall in teaching standards.
Recent
unemployment figures show the contradictions that have developed due
the current crisis of capitalism. Unemployment among 18 to 24-year-olds
has fallen, as has the total number of people claiming Jobseeker’s
Allowance. However, the number of people in work has also fallen.
According to the Office for National
Statistics, employment and unemployment are both falling due to the
rising number of people classed as "economically inactive", which
includes students. Dr
John Philpott, chief economic adviser at the Chartered Institute of
Personnel and Development, says that, "The apparent paradox is
explained by a very sharp rise of 149,000 in the number of economically
inactive people, with the number of students surging by 98,000. Jobless
young people are thus turning to study in their thousands to avoid the
dole".
The
government, which is trying to cut an overall budget deficit that
currently stands at 13% of GDP as a result of bailing out the banks, is
looking to place the burden for HE funding onto the shoulders of
students. This year saw a record rise of 23% in the number of people
applying to universities, but sources estimate that approximately
200,000 people will be denied entrance due to a reduction in places. Meanwhile, a
recent study found that 28% of students expect to accumulate debts of
over £20,000 as a result of going to university, whilst the current
higher education finance review is likely to recommend an increase in
tuition fees to over £5,000 or possibly more.
Students
and university workers, however, are already beginning to fight back. A
number of occupations by students have taken place recently in
universities across the country, including Sussex and Aberdeen, whilst
the university staff at Sussex went on strike on March 18th after 76% of UCU members on an 80.9% turnout voted for action in protest against plans to shed 115 teaching and support staff jobs. Meanwhile,
potential strike action by UCU members at Leeds University was called
off at the last minute after management accepted some of the union’s
demands. The need for unity between students and workers is now clear,
and was demonstrated at a protest in London on March 20th that was
called for by the UCU, which was supported by over one thousand
students and workers, including members of the NUT and PCS unions, who
marched together in defence of education and jobs.
