This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/education-11839216
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Student occupations continue at 10 universities | Student occupations continue at 10 universities |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Heather Sharp BBC Education reporter | |
Students are still occupying buildings at eight universities after a UK-wide day of protests against tuition fee rises. | |
About 20 protesters have occupied the constituency office of the Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes. | |
On Thursday morning, students were demonstrating in lecture theatres and other sites at universities including Edinburgh, UCL, Cardiff and Newcastle. | |
Seventeen people were hurt in clashes at Wednesday's march in London. | Seventeen people were hurt in clashes at Wednesday's march in London. |
Thirty-two arrests were made after a police van was attacked and barricades thrown as protesters tried to break through police lines as thousands of people demonstrated at Whitehall. | Thirty-two arrests were made after a police van was attacked and barricades thrown as protesters tried to break through police lines as thousands of people demonstrated at Whitehall. |
School pupils walked out of lessons to join university and college students on local protest marches across the UK. | School pupils walked out of lessons to join university and college students on local protest marches across the UK. |
The protesters are angered by the government's plans to allow universities in England to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year and to make cuts of up to 80% to university teaching budgets. | |
Further education and sixth form students are also enraged by the scrapping of the educational maintenance allowance, which gives low-income 16-19 year olds up to £30 a week to help them continue in full time education. | Further education and sixth form students are also enraged by the scrapping of the educational maintenance allowance, which gives low-income 16-19 year olds up to £30 a week to help them continue in full time education. |
Protest leaders have announced a further day of action on 30 November. | |
Up to 20 demonstrators staged a protest at Simon Hughes' constituency offices in south London on Thursday. | |
A spokesman in his Westminster office has told the BBC there was a "minor incident" but "people were ejected quickly". | |
Bodleian take-over | |
On Thursday, Oxford University said "tens" of people were occupying the Radcliffe Camera, part of the Bodleian Library. | |
A man who identified himself as a 21-year-old classics student named Peter told the BBC by telephone that he was among about 70 people inside the building. | |
Oxford University said that some of those inside were not students. | |
Peter said about 45 were Oxford University students, and the rest were all studying at Oxford Brookes University, Ruskin College and other local further education colleges. | |
He said the protesters had wanted to keep the library open to the public, but the police and university security staff were preventing anyone else from entering. | |
Supporters were passing food supplies through the windows, he said, and "the books are being looked after". | |
The Bodleian Library stores all books published in the UK. | |
The students are calling on Oxford University to commit to not increasing fees for any courses, and pledge never to privatise. | The students are calling on Oxford University to commit to not increasing fees for any courses, and pledge never to privatise. |
"We'll stay until the university meets our demands," Peter said. | |
Oxford University said it had asked the students to leave. | Oxford University said it had asked the students to leave. |
"The University of Oxford supports freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest," it said in a statement. | "The University of Oxford supports freedom of expression and the right to peaceful protest," it said in a statement. |
"However, this is an unlawful occupation and one that has caused considerable inconvenience and disruption," it said. | "However, this is an unlawful occupation and one that has caused considerable inconvenience and disruption," it said. |
'Deep-seated and furious' | 'Deep-seated and furious' |
At Edinburgh University, dozens of students stayed overnight in the Appleton Tower lecture building, while about 30 students have taken over a lecture theatre in Cardiff and 30 to 40 stayed put in Newcastle University's Fine Arts building. | At Edinburgh University, dozens of students stayed overnight in the Appleton Tower lecture building, while about 30 students have taken over a lecture theatre in Cardiff and 30 to 40 stayed put in Newcastle University's Fine Arts building. |
Occupations also continued at University College London, the School of Oriental and African Studies, Manchester, Plymouth, Leeds and Essex. | Occupations also continued at University College London, the School of Oriental and African Studies, Manchester, Plymouth, Leeds and Essex. |
The sit-ins follow a day of protests around the UK on Wednesday. | The sit-ins follow a day of protests around the UK on Wednesday. |
The Education Activist Network said it showed the "mass, deep-seated and furious opposition to the government's education cuts" and hailed walkouts, protests and marches yesterday "too numerous for the media to count". | The Education Activist Network said it showed the "mass, deep-seated and furious opposition to the government's education cuts" and hailed walkouts, protests and marches yesterday "too numerous for the media to count". |
The group accused the police of "heavy-handed brutality" in its handling of Wednesday's protest in London, criticising the police for "kettling" students as young as 14 for hours behind police lines in cold conditions. | The group accused the police of "heavy-handed brutality" in its handling of Wednesday's protest in London, criticising the police for "kettling" students as young as 14 for hours behind police lines in cold conditions. |
But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson defended the move and said forcibly holding protesters in one place was a "valued tactic to be used wisely and on the best information and carefully". | But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson defended the move and said forcibly holding protesters in one place was a "valued tactic to be used wisely and on the best information and carefully". |
Two of those injured were police officers. | Two of those injured were police officers. |
'Not understood' | 'Not understood' |
The EAN said a further day of action, billed as a "national student strike" was being planned for Tuesday 30 November. | The EAN said a further day of action, billed as a "national student strike" was being planned for Tuesday 30 November. |
On Wednesday, Universities Minister David Willetts said students had not seemed to have understood the proposals on fees - and that they would not have to pay the higher fees up-front. | On Wednesday, Universities Minister David Willetts said students had not seemed to have understood the proposals on fees - and that they would not have to pay the higher fees up-front. |
"Young people will be provided with the funds they need to meet whatever charges universities levy," said Mr Willetts. | "Young people will be provided with the funds they need to meet whatever charges universities levy," said Mr Willetts. |
Under the government's plans, graduates will start to pay their fees back once their incomes reach £21,000. | Under the government's plans, graduates will start to pay their fees back once their incomes reach £21,000. |
Debts not paid off after 30 years will be wiped out. | Debts not paid off after 30 years will be wiped out. |
The proposals apply to England, but are likely to have knock-on effects in Wales and Northern Ireland, where students currently pay similar tuition fees to those in England. | The proposals apply to England, but are likely to have knock-on effects in Wales and Northern Ireland, where students currently pay similar tuition fees to those in England. |
Scottish students studying at Scottish universities do not have to pay fees, but there is increasing pressure for some form of graduate contribution to help fund the sector. | Scottish students studying at Scottish universities do not have to pay fees, but there is increasing pressure for some form of graduate contribution to help fund the sector. |