By Troy Saxby
In response to the federal government's attempts to privatise higher education, Resistance has proposed that a national day of action be called for March 29 to demand "Free education, not privatisation!" and "Reverse education funding cuts!".
A federal government report revealed that operating grants for universities fell from $4.8 billion in 1996 to $4.2 billion in 2000. During the same period, student fees and charges increased by nearly $1 billion.
There is widespread support from students and the general population for publicly funded education. This was demonstrated when public opposition forced the government to drop most of the proposals for further privatisation of education contained in a cabinet briefing paper leaked in October. Resistance believes that a national day of action will galvanise public support.
Student activists are debating the date for the action. On January 27, the NSW Cross-Campus Education Network voted to call on the National Union of Students (NUS) to organise a national day of action on April 12. Some activists argued that this would allow more time to develop "log of claims" campaigns on campuses.
Resistance supports "log of claims" campaigns — demands on university administrations to address cuts to courses, staff and student services. Campus-based demands need to be linked to the cause of the problem — government funding cuts — and the demand that the cuts be reversed.
It is impossible to separate campus-based campaigns and national demands. Resistance believes that, from the start of the university year, these campaigns should be run simultaneously. Having the national action within a few weeks of the start of semester would allow activists to build momentum and get new students involved.
On January 27, the Brisbane Cross-Campus Education Network voted to call for a national day of action on March 29. Resistance will be arguing for this date at the NUS national education committee and national executive meetings on February 3-6 in Melbourne.
Log of claims campaigns being developed at the start of the year will continue after the national action, whether it is in March or April. Resistance suggests that another national day of action be held in second semester, which students can use to push campus-based campaigns forward.