‘Young people are drowning in debt before they’ve even entered the job market, all for the so-called privilege of higher education’

SCRAPPING tuition fees isn’t just about affordability – it’s about reimagining education as a public good that everyone can access, not as a commodity up for sale.

Young people are drowning in debt before they’ve even entered the job market, all for the so-called privilege of higher education.

The current model, where students graduate with an average debt of £45,000, is unsustainable and fundamentally unjust.

Wealthier students can pay off loans easily, while others are shackled by years or monthly repayments, which are often far below the ever-accumulating interest.

Many people will go through their whole lives looking disbelievingly at their payslips as the repayments are clawed back bit-by-bit.

It burdens young people before they’ve even started their careers, influencing their job choices, housing decisions, and ability to save, while reinforcing class inequalities.

For many, the prospect of repaying this debt is daunting, and for most, it’s a deterrent to studying subjects that are unlikely to lead to an above-average salary.

Our Peeps team were down on campuses this week asking students about the latest increases. They spoke about how difficult it already is to live in London without a wage and how, massive as they are, the loans barely cover the basic cost of living.

Universities claim that fees improve the quality of education. Is this really the case?

Institutions have been caught prioritising flashy marketing over substantial academic investment, and fees have been used to fund projects aimed more at attracting prospective students.

Students still find themselves in overcrowded lecture halls, juggling massive course workloads with part-time jobs, and struggling with mental health issues exacerbated by financial strain.

Freeing students from tuition fees would allow them to focus on learning, research, making new friends and – perhaps more importantly – their own personal growth.

Opponents argue that the country can’t afford to fund higher education. But consider this: the government is already writing-off billions each year on unpaid student debt, knowing that most borrowers will never fully repay.

Education should not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy; it should be an investment we make in everyone’s future.

Countries like Germany and Norway have scrapped tuition fees, recognising that an educated society benefits everyone.

The government needs to stop making excuses and take action.

Education is not a product, it’s a right.