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Union warns of fee-paying backlash

Posted on 28th May 2009

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The University and College Union (UCU) has claimed the government's request for universities and colleges to cut costs may not find favour with fee-paying pupils.

Speaking to the Guardian, Sally Hunt, the general secretary of the UCU, said the state should be using education to kick-start the economy and less contact time with tutors and larger classes could see more students campaigning against education facilities.

Ms Hunt said as soon as fees were introduced students were turned into customers.

She explained: "As soon as you do that, they become more questioning of what they are receiving and it puts lecturers, who are doing their best in tight financial situations, in a very difficult position."

If fees go up, there will be an increase in complaints, she added.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills demanded £400 million worth of cuts in the Budget last month, which may cause redundancies and reduce the quality of student contact. ADNFCR-921-ID-19191479-ADNFCR