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Students stage fee rise protests Students stage fee rise protests
(40 minutes later)
Thousands of students are staging more protests against controversial plans to triple tuition fees in England and cut university funding.Thousands of students are staging more protests against controversial plans to triple tuition fees in England and cut university funding.
Students in England and Scotland are holding flash demos, sit-ins and other protests in the build-up to Thursday's vote on the plans in the Commons.Students in England and Scotland are holding flash demos, sit-ins and other protests in the build-up to Thursday's vote on the plans in the Commons.
Ministers have announced new concessions to their proposals.Ministers have announced new concessions to their proposals.
A lecturers' union is warning one in three English universities is at risk from them.A lecturers' union is warning one in three English universities is at risk from them.
The University and College Union says 49 out of 130 universities could face serious financial difficulties - and some could face mergers or closure.The University and College Union says 49 out of 130 universities could face serious financial difficulties - and some could face mergers or closure.
As students, academics and school pupils from Dundee to Exeter began a fourth day of protests against the changes, ministers announced new concessions.As students, academics and school pupils from Dundee to Exeter began a fourth day of protests against the changes, ministers announced new concessions.
Tuition fees are due to rise to a maximum of £9,000 a year from the present level of £3,290 - a move which ministers say will secure the future of university funding.Tuition fees are due to rise to a maximum of £9,000 a year from the present level of £3,290 - a move which ministers say will secure the future of university funding.
The changes are due to take place from 2012.The changes are due to take place from 2012.
ConcessionsConcessions
On Wednesday morning, the government said the £21,000 salary at which graduates start repaying their fees would be uprated each year for inflation.On Wednesday morning, the government said the £21,000 salary at which graduates start repaying their fees would be uprated each year for inflation.
The plan had been to increase it in line with inflation every five years.The plan had been to increase it in line with inflation every five years.
And more part-time students will be able to apply for student loans. They will become eligible if they study for a quarter of the year rather than a third as planned.And more part-time students will be able to apply for student loans. They will become eligible if they study for a quarter of the year rather than a third as planned.
On Thursday, the controversial plans on tuition fees will be put to a vote in the House of Commons, with Liberal Democrat MPs under continued pressure over their pre-election pledges not to vote for a fee rise.On Thursday, the controversial plans on tuition fees will be put to a vote in the House of Commons, with Liberal Democrat MPs under continued pressure over their pre-election pledges not to vote for a fee rise.
The National Union of Students is staging a national day of action on Wednesday and on Thursday there will be a lobby of parliament. Academics and other university staff are joining in.The National Union of Students is staging a national day of action on Wednesday and on Thursday there will be a lobby of parliament. Academics and other university staff are joining in.
Peaceful protests are taking place in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Coventry, Exeter, Gloucestershire, Sheffield, Stafford, Worcester, Warwick, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, among other places, the NUS says.Peaceful protests are taking place in Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Coventry, Exeter, Gloucestershire, Sheffield, Stafford, Worcester, Warwick, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, among other places, the NUS says.
SuffragettesSuffragettes
In London, students are staging "teach-ins" outside universities and at tube stations.In London, students are staging "teach-ins" outside universities and at tube stations.
A group dressed as suffragettes is demonstrating outside the constituency offices of Lib Dem minister Lynne Featherstone in North London.A group dressed as suffragettes is demonstrating outside the constituency offices of Lib Dem minister Lynne Featherstone in North London.
NUS women's officer Olivia Bailey said as equalities minister, Ms Featherstone was a key target for students wanting to persuade Lib Dems to vote against the changes.NUS women's officer Olivia Bailey said as equalities minister, Ms Featherstone was a key target for students wanting to persuade Lib Dems to vote against the changes.
She said women would suffer more under the proposals because they would take longer to pay off their student loans and therefore pay more interest.She said women would suffer more under the proposals because they would take longer to pay off their student loans and therefore pay more interest.
"We are dressed as suffragettes because the real suffragettes fought for women's rights and for women's rights to education," she told BBC News."We are dressed as suffragettes because the real suffragettes fought for women's rights and for women's rights to education," she told BBC News.
"If this bill is passed it will be a step backwards for women's education.""If this bill is passed it will be a step backwards for women's education."
It has now been confirmed by the Lib Dems that its ministers will vote for the tuition fee rise, even though they could have abstained under the coalition agreement.It has now been confirmed by the Lib Dems that its ministers will vote for the tuition fee rise, even though they could have abstained under the coalition agreement.
School occupationSchool occupation
The latest protest - as with the earlier ones - has spread to school pupils.The latest protest - as with the earlier ones - has spread to school pupils.
At the Camden School for Girls in north London, pupils are staging sit-ins in the sixth form at break-times and are aiming to sleep in the school tonight.At the Camden School for Girls in north London, pupils are staging sit-ins in the sixth form at break-times and are aiming to sleep in the school tonight.
Students in Scotland are staging protests too - even though the changes being voted on on Thursday will only affect England directly.Students in Scotland are staging protests too - even though the changes being voted on on Thursday will only affect England directly.
They are worried a tuition fee rise in England will fuel calls for the re-introduction of graduate contributions in Scotland and mean that Scottish students studying in England will incur more debts.They are worried a tuition fee rise in England will fuel calls for the re-introduction of graduate contributions in Scotland and mean that Scottish students studying in England will incur more debts.
Demonstrations are taking place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Aberdeen and Dundee.Demonstrations are taking place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Aberdeen and Dundee.
Liam Burns, president of NUS Scotland, said: "Thousands of students, pupils, teachers and workers across Scotland are braving sub-zero temperature and dangerous roads to make it clear to people and politicians all over the UK that the Westminster vote to increase tuition fees is far from an English-only matter".Liam Burns, president of NUS Scotland, said: "Thousands of students, pupils, teachers and workers across Scotland are braving sub-zero temperature and dangerous roads to make it clear to people and politicians all over the UK that the Westminster vote to increase tuition fees is far from an English-only matter".
The Welsh Assembly has announced that university fees will rise in Wales to up to £9,00 , but that Welsh students will have to pay no more than about £3,000 wherever they study in the UK.
Students going to Wales from England will be expected to pay full costs.