Kent University students hold a demo and short march around campus ahead of Thursday's tution fee debate and parliamentary vote. Picture: Barry Goodwin.

by Adam Williams

Students are holding their breath ahead of today’s (Thursday) parliamentary vote on the future of tuition fees.

Thousands are expected to descend on Westminster to lobby MPs ahead of the controversial vote which could allow English universities to raise fees to £9,000 per year.

Overnight, a group of Kent University students staged a peaceful sit-in at the Senate building. It followed a day of action on campus, including marches and rallies and a "Teach-In" held by academics and lecturers on what the future may hold for university funding.

Students were also hoping to meet MP Julian Brazier hours before Thursday's vote in a bid to exert last-minute pressure.

The Canterbury and Whitstable MP admits he will vote "with a heavy heart" in favour of the policy.

He said: “Since coming to power we have had to make some tough decisions because the country is broke.

“It’s not what I went into politics to do and it’s a very unpleasant choice to make. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will reluctantly be voting in favour.

“But, the fact is we can’t go on with a system that won’t help reduce the deficit. I’m hoping that as the economy shows signs of improvement, we can be in a position to put money back into the system and into the education budget.

“We have got to get the economy back on track first and foremost and then at least there can be more jobs for graduates to apply for.”

Steve Godwin, president at Canterbury Christ Church Students’ Union, believes if the vote is passed, the implications will be felt by everyone.

He said: “Around half of Canterbury’s community are students and will of course be directly affected by the changes, but the other significant proportion are parents, grandparents, guardians, aunts and uncles who will all have to pick up the pieces for this increased cost and debt.

“We’re really trying to urge the whole community to get behind us on this, so politicians can see the true cost.

“I just feel this whole policy has been ram-raided through at an alarmingly breakneck speed, because the maths doesn’t add up. For the £27,000 it could cost people over three years, how many of them are realistically going to earn enough to pay it back? If a thousand people can’t pay, that’s £27 million added to the country’s debt.”

"If you triple the fees, you triple the debt and that will triple the lending."

Helen Wood, president of Kent Union, fears market forces will take over higher education if the tuition fee cap is lifted to £9,000 per year.

She said: “You’ll see a split between those who can afford to go to university and those who can’t. Middle-income families just won’t be able to make the simple choice any more to send their children to university.

“Some courses will also charge different fees at different institutions, so that could mean an imbalance in grants and development funds for certain departments over others.

“I just don’t believe MPs know enough about the policy at the moment to cast an informed vote. The White Paper on Higher Education is not due out until the new year, so many will be voting blind.”

Both university vice-chancellors were invited to comment, but felt they would be in a better position to issue a statement after Thursday’s vote.

See more pictures in this week's Kentish Gazette.