A Socialist Students group occupied the University of Liverpool Guild of Students demanding free tuition following a year of Covid-19 disruptions.
Members of the group are calling for the removal of fees as part of their wider policy of cancelling student debt.
The demonstration yesterday was part of a campaign that saw the group hold events at more than 20 universities across the country.
Alex Smith, student at the University of Liverpool and Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate for Cressington Ward, said:
“We believe that students have once again been left behind with the Government’s broken promise of a return to real life teaching by April.
“They’ve failed to make our campuses safe and protect the interests of students and staff.
“That’s why we’re demanding that our tuition fees are refunded for the year.
“That would be a good start to making up for the stress both university management and the Government have put us through this year as they tried to get their hands on our fees and rent.”
The student group movement want there to be full government funding to provide a safe, high quality and free education for all.
Alex Smith adds that the past decade of underfunding has cut vital services in universities including student support and mental health.
“Tuition fees have skyrocketed and maintenance grants have been abolished- direct attacks on all students, but especially those from less well-off backgrounds.”
Socialist Students believe protests by individuals across the country is promising when it comes to demands for the removal of fees.
“The rent refunds which have been won by students this year prove though that when we organise we can win.
“It’s of urgent importance that we now begin to link up the struggles happening locally on different campuses into a national student movement and take the fight to the Government.”
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Featured image by Paddy Edrich.
