Medical Students Join Tuition Fee Protest

Medical students have today joined the National Union of Students (NUS) and University and College Union (UCU) in a national protest against higher education cuts and planned increases in tuition fees that could leave medical graduates facing debts of around £70,000. 



The NUS say around 30,000 people are taking part in the protest.

Some students are chanting "Stop the cuts" and whistling.

The British Medical Association (BMA) joined the demonstration in London under its campaign 'Higher Education on Life Support,' to highlight the impact of the government’s plans on medical schools and medical students. 



The protest threatens to unseat Liberal Democrat MPs who go back on pre-election pledges they made to oppose any rise in tuition fees.

It has been reported that some protestors have attacked the Conservatives' headquarters and set fire to placards outside.

Ministers insist their plans offer a "fair deal for students".

Before the protest, Karin Purshouse, Chair of the BMA’s Medical Students Committee, said:

 “Higher education and students in all sectors and subjects are under enormous pressure, with medical students facing a particularly serious threat from the government’s proposal to increase tuition fees up to £9,000 a year.



“We are deeply concerned that medical schools will charge this maximum amount given the expensive nature of teaching medicine and the funding squeeze many are facing. If fees are set at £9,000, medical students could face debts of around £70,000. 



“It would be unforgivable if patients and the NHS lost out on the skills of gifted young people from low and middle income families because they were not able to support themselves through university or able to take on these levels of debt. BMA research shows many students are already relying on £16,000 from their families over the course of their five year degree.



“The BMA is asking the government to think again about many of its higher education policies, in particular to reverse its backing for higher tuition fees.”

(BMcN/GK)