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From The Socialist newspaper, 3 November 2021
Tories threaten arts students: we are prepared to fight back!
Photo: Mary Finch (Click to enlarge)
Eve Jones, UAL Socialist Students
It is not surprising that our government would pass a motion for vast, brutal cuts to the arts and humanities courses in higher education, but it is deeply harmful and enraging nonetheless.
The Conservatives decreed that, as of June 2021, funding to arts and creative degrees - referred to as 'dead-end courses' by Education Secretary Gavin Williamson - would be cut by 50%. A move that not only affects students but university staff, field professionals, and the creative industry as a whole.
In addition to a withdrawal of funds, the Tories are also considering raising A-level entry requirements into arts courses, a decision more likely to affect students from poorer backgrounds, as well as students that struggle with the dogmatic standardised exam methods that mark the end of secondary education.
Finally, the Tories have also decided that the London weighting should be cut, leaving a number of arts universities in London with a loss of £64 million in an expensive and gentrified city.
These diverted finances will be funnelled into what the Tories consider to be more 'useful' subjects - STEM and medicine - where graduates generally earn higher wages and therefore guarantee a return on student loans.
Rather than combat this issue of student debt by raising wages in the arts industry or scrapping tuition fees altogether, the Conservative ethos continues to be punching downward - considering lowering the loan repayment threshold to £23,000 a year, for example.
Students, staff and creatives alike shouldn't have to put up with this. That's why we campaign for free accessible higher education, and it's why we will support university staff in the University and Colleges Union if they decide to strike, and university cleaners when their strike resumes on 12 November, as we did at the start of term.
A mobilised generation is a dangerous generation for those in established power, so we will continue to fight for a free and decent education for all.
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In The Socialist 3 November 2021:
COP26
Socialist change to end climate change
Fight for socialism to end climate destruction
COP26 begins - workers strike for pay
Campaigns news
Why I joined the Socialist Party
Fund the fight for a socialist world
Sheffield students tirelessly campaigning for socialist change
Hackney children's centres: Campaigners see through council deception
East London gentrification plans exposed
News
Fight for a real wage rise for all
Local government cuts set to continue - we need councillors prepared to fight
Fight for a £15-an-hour minimum wage and an end to youth rates
Water companies put profits before protecting our environment
Tories threaten arts students: we are prepared to fight back!
Tory Universal Credit crumbs no solution to cost of living crisis
Tory plans won't fix social care
Pay freeze lifted for civil servants - prepare now for the struggle for a decent rise
Workplace news
NEU: Strategy needed to bring members together to take national action
Oaks Park school strike spurred on by head's lies
Scunthorpe scaffs strike into fifth week
Unite leaflets supermarkets to build support for Weetabix fire and rehire strike
Fighting sexism
Sexism, safety and the profit system
International news
Sudan - mass protests and general strike against coup
Chile: International solidarity campaign to free political prisoners
Vaccine inequality - the ugly face of capitalism
Hunger strike in Calais for refugee rights
Protests against Sudan coup reach Britain
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2021