Students from universities and colleges in Canterbury
joined forces on Saturday to protest against tuition fees and
debt.

The Canterbury United
campaign saw members of student unions from Canterbury College,
Canterbury Christ Church University, the University of Kent and the
University of the Creative Arts march through the city.

Carrying placards and
shouting Love Canterbury, Hate Debt, they ended their protest in
the Dane John gardens, where they were addressed by Aaron Porter,
vice-president of the National Union of Students, with
responsibility for higher education.

Outlining the state of
university finance, Mr Porter said if debt increased any further
students would make their further education choices on the grounds
of finance and not courses.

He said: “We were very
pleased with the turn-out on the march and lots more students said
they would have joined it but they were working to try to make ends
meet.

“Most people, including
students, think it is only fair to contribute towards tuition fees
but the average debt held by students when they left university in
2009 was £22,000, and that is more than enough. The vast majority
of politicians got free education or grants but it is not like that
for us.”

Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Video: See the march in
action in Canterbury city centre.

The march was followed by
a well-attended debate at Christ Church University’s library at
Augustine House, where the speakers included Mr Porter and MP
Julian Brazier.

For full story see this week’s Kentish
Gazette.