Last month saw the release of a review commissioned by Theresa May which proposes a series of reforms to post-18 education. While it aims to improve access to all forms of post-18 education, it is clear that the proposals contained in this report would only exacerbate the crisis facing Higher Education – leaving both students and universities worse off. At first glance, some proposals may be welcomed by students in Higher Read more…
On the 1st June an inquest was held into the suicide of a student at the University of Manchester last year. The student had written a five page letter, in which he expressed his shock at the university’s failure to check up with him, despite them being fully aware of his pre-existing mental health issues. The student called for more to be done from the university in the future. He was Read more…
Recently the University of Warwick announced that it would implement a new scheme for disadvantaged students from around the West Midlands region. The scheme, named “Warwick Scholars’, would cost £10 million a year and is aimed at improving the admissions prospects of talented students who live in deprived areas or are from disadvantaged groups (i.e. people in local authority care, on free school meals, having a long-term illness, etc). This is Read more…
At the end of last month, 43 police forces across England and Wales introduced powers enabling the police to seize the digital devices of those coming forward to report rape or sexual assault. A victim’s mobile phone and laptop can be confiscated for indefinite periods of time, enabling the state to access any information on those devices. Victims who refuse are threatened with having their case dropped. The policy has been Read more…
Over a million people marched yesterday against education cuts and pension counter reform during Brazil’s national education strike. The national education strike, called by the National Confederation of Education Unions (CNTE) and National Union of Students (UNE) was in response to a 30% budget cut announced by Bolsonaro’s Education Minister. This colossal display against these cuts is a powerful message to Bolsonaro and his government, showing the strength of the working Read more…
Today (15th May 2019), a huge education strike is taking place across Brazil, organised by the National Confederation of Education Unions and with the support of the National Union of Students (UNE). Bolsonaro’s Education Minister announced a 30% cut to the education budget, which has provoked a huge backlash from students and education workers. In some universities, this cut is set to influence 56% of their overall budget. Mass meetings with Read more…
If Marxists defend democratic rights, why violent revolution, the “red terror”, the Red Army and the civil war in Russia? We should begin by emphasising Marxists are entirely in favour of peaceful revolution. But it is also true that Marxists are not pacifists, and we recognise that in attempting to transform society by putting the wealth in society under public and democratic control, history teaches us that revolutionaries will possibly be Read more…
Gagging orders are defined as a prevention of public disclosure on information of a controversial or sensitive matter. In April, universities were investigated, and it was found that Cardiff University spends, on average, nearly £8 million annually on gagging orders. Gagging orders are usually used to prevent disclosure of information about how employers and authority at the university have either made racist/sexist/homophobic comments and sexual harassment allegations etc. Cardiff University has Read more…
May Day leaflet written by Lenin in 1904: Comrade workers! May Day is coming, the day when the workers of all lands celebrate Their awakening to a class- conscious life, their solidarity in the struggle against all coercion and oppression of man by man, the struggle to free the toiling millions from hunger, poverty, and humiliation. Two worlds stand facing each other in this great struggle: the world of capital and Read more…
The casualisation of work is no aberration of capitalism. It is the logical outcome of a system based on profit. Precarious work is the product of processes within capitalism that Karl Marx described over 150 years ago. In the first volume of his seminal work on economics, Capital, Marx explains how the bosses obtain profit from the exploitation of workers: “Capital is dead labour, that, vampire-like, only lives by sucking living Read more…
It has been announced that Trump is planning a UK state visit from 3rd – 5th June. On 4th June, a protest in London will take place. The Marxist Student Federation will organise a ‘Revolutionary Block’ on this demonstration. We must fight Trump with internationalism and class solidarity. In Britain, we can do this by mobilising to overthrow our own ruling class. Theresa May is desperate to form a bond with Read more…
The nominations have been collected and candidates announced for the upcoming UCU general secretary elections, following the resignation of former GS Sally Hunt due to health reasons. Above all, we need a leadership that is willing to fight for our sector against the bosses and Tory government. The “continuity” (i.e. right-wing) candidate is Mark Waddup, current National Head of Policy and Campaigns and unelected, self-appointed, acting general secretary after Hunt’s departure. Read more…
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