BIBBY BACKS STUDENT CAMPAIGN TO SCRAP GRADUATE FEES

Neil Bibby MSP has backed local students at the University of West Scotland (UWS) who are campaigning to scrap graduation fees at the university.

A petition started by UWS Student Representative Janel Muir from Paisley has already received over 2,000 signatures.

UWS charges students £40 to graduate in person or absentia along with compulsory gown hire at £42 for a few hours.

Mr Bibby has today tabled a parliamentary motion in the Scottish Parliament supporting the calls of students and the Students’ Association UWS (SAUWS).

Neil Bibby MSP said “I do understand the financial pressures that UWS are under and the Scottish Government do need to step up and provide proper funding for them. I recognise that universities like UWS are at the forefront of getting more young people from deprived backgrounds into higher education and need financial support from government to achieve this, but this cannot justify graduation fees for those same young people.

The charges being imposed on students at our local university are a singularly unfair tax. I note that a number of other universities such as Glasgow, Strathclyde and Stirling have already scrapped these charges. The SAUWS and students like Janel Muir are to be congratulated for campaigning on this issue and they have my support. I hope that the university listens and that the students are successful in their campaign.”