Staff and students from Bournemouth University, Arts University College Bournemouth and Bournemouth and Poole College will take to the streets of London today (Wednesday, 10 November) to protest against cuts to education funding and higher student fees.

The National Union of Students (NUS) and the University and College Union (UCU) are jointly organising the mass demonstration in the wake of huge cuts to colleges and universities and the government’s plans to raise tuition fees and charge students more interest on that debt.

Bournemouth University UCU branch secretary, John Brissenden:

The planned cuts to further and higher education will have a devastating impact on learning in Bournemouth. It is essential that staff and students take a stand against these regressive plans that will put the future of local education provision at risk and that we speak out against saddling future generations with thousands in debt.

Bournemouth University students’ union president, Toby Horner:

Students and lecturers here at Bournemouth University are making the journey to London in order to defend education against the disastrous cuts that are being imposed on our community. Together we will let politicians know that we will not tolerate their failure to fund our future or force students to pick up the bill for others’ mistakes.

More information on the demo can be found at www.demo2010.org

Protestors will assemble at Horse Guards Avenue from 11:30 and the march will begin at 12:30 through Central London and past the Houses of Parliament.

A rally and speeches will take place on Millbank outside the Tate Britain from 13:15.

Note: above text from UCU Bournemouth University branch press release.