Dear Don,
As our Liberal Democrat MP you are a spokesperson for Higher Education. It is your duty to protect, not only in terms of opposing the cuts to government funding that the University of Bath faces, but also in terms of the values and principles that underpin education as a social good that should be equally accessible to all. We are deeply concerned about the policies of the Coalition Government, which we did not vote for.
We call on you to address our questions as our MP. We need to know if you share our concerns.
Concern 1: We are concerned that the proposed changes to funding of Higher Education will create wider inequalities. Even the suggestion of financial help for the very poorest will not enable the reality of equal access for all. Many potential students will be unable to contemplate the very much higher levels of debt.
Questions 1 : Does the probability of widening inequality, and education becoming a luxury of the rich, concern you to?
Concern 2: If higher education is not equally accessible to all in a real sense then we risk failing to develop the talents of all. This would be economically damaging and ethically wrong.
Question 2: Do you agree that higher education is a wider economic and social good?
Concern 3 : We are worried that the coalition proposals effectively mean the privatisation of higher education. We believe education is a public good and right.
Question 3: Do you agree that education should be a right not a consumer product for those with money?
Our final question is do you stand with us in opposing cuts to higher education and any rise in tuition fees.
Signed:
Students of the University of Bath.