Students:

Don't sign 'good behaviour' contracts

THOUSANDS OF university students are being forced to sign "good behaviour" contracts. At Oxford and Chester universities contracts have been introduced where a breach of regulations can result in expulsion.

Matt Dobson, Socialist Students National Co-ordinator

The regulations outline codes of practice about student’s conduct and studies. The National Union of Students (NUS) have condemned these contracts on the basis that they offer poor customer service.

Of course Socialist Students believe that charging Ł3,000 a year for top-up fees and burdening students with huge debts is making education a privilege for the rich only and that students have the right to demand free fully funded education.

However the NUS leadership have shown themselves to be incapable of organising mass opposition to New Labour’s attacks and offer no strategy for fighting their latest onslaught.

The implications of the contracts are wider than simply offering a poor education service. As there are provisions for "good behaviour" this will be used against student activists campaigning, organising and demonstrating on campuses. Already in many colleges and universities Socialist Students have to defend their democratic rights against university managements.

The contracts are completely one-sided in favour of the greedy vice-chancellors, there are no clauses on their conduct and there are provisions to allow them to cut departments, close courses and facilities in the middle of the year.

NUS should be giving a fighting lead against these attacks on our democratic rights and education. Socialist Students calls for a mass campaign against the signing of these contracts to be organised across campuses.

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In The Socialist 14 September 2006:

Socialist Party NHS campaign

United action can win!