Youth must fight for a future!

This year's college leavers face:

A shortfall of up to 200,000 university places
An average of Ł24,700 student debt, if you get to uni
An expected 35% cut from the education budget
Graduate unemployment of 14%

Bang, bang, bang. Listen out for the sounds of doors shutting in the faces of young people this month. 260,000 students have fulfilled their part of the contract. They have studied, stressed and sweated and will now receive their A-level results. But the statistics show that the majority face an uncertain future.

Universities are so worried about being charged for over recruiting students that many have already confirmed they will offer no clearing places at all. Last year, over 47,000 students got their places that way after they fell short of their predicted grades.

In fact, some believe that the actual number of student places will end up being less than last year despite the government promising an increase of 10,000. And for those who do manage to secure a place, three years of study will now result in an average debt of Ł24,700 - more than enough to put off many poorer young people.

In October the comprehensive spending review is expected to announce a further 35% cut in the education budget which will inevitably mean closures of courses and maybe even whole universities. The argument that 'it all pays off in the end' has been blown apart with 69 applicants for every graduate job.

Government ministers say 'we're all in it together' but are pulling up the ladder of education and jobs behind themselves. With every avenue being closed to us, young people have no choice but to get organised and fight back against these attacks.

We need a mass movement to demand access to education, an end to cuts, free education and a mass programme of job creation to make sure every young person has a decent future.