For free education, against privatisation and cuts.

On Friday March 15, 2002, co-ordinated protest action took place around the world. In Leicester we had our own little event at the same time, reported on below. The event was organised by International Socialist Resistance(ISR), set up internationally at the end of last year. ISR has a branch in Leicester. email leicesterisr@yahoo.co.uk for more info or the national website: www.anticapitalism.org.uk

The gates were locked at Gateway College, Leicester, on Friday March 15th. It was an attempt by the college management to prevent students walking out to support the ISR day of action. An "exclusion zone" with police style incident tape and three security guards was even set up by the front entrance to prevent students from getting too close to our rally!

About 50 students braved the pouring rain to protest for free education and against cuts around De Montford University. 25 of them came on strike from QE College and marched about a mile to join the rally. Considering the weather this was a success, particularly as there was an upbeat and combative mood.

After the rally outside Gateway College, we marched around the campus to the De Montfort Student Union, and then to the Vice Chancellor's office with the aim of showing him exactly how we felt. He was not in, however we sent a delegation to talk to his next in command. He had earlier sent an email out to lecturers warning them about International Socialist Resistance and the strike. We obviously made the authorities very nervous.

People felt it was a good day, and the ISR has gained much out of it. We have people keen on building the ISR and organising further action in QE and Gateway Colleges, and in Leicester and De Montfort Universities.

Dave Score

One student at DMU said:

"Its not just the government Tuition Fees we have to pay. Arts and design faculties are charging students extra money on top of their fees for materials and refusing to teach or not giving exam results if they are not paid within the semester."

Martin Balbier, a sixth former at QE College, said:

"I'm here for free education. We should have grants not fees. Lots of students leave college because they cannot afford to. In the future students like myself may not be able to go at all because of lack of grants and the fees. We shouldn't have privatised education, governments should be supporting education not shunning it"