Students in Leeds and Bradford call for tuition fee and rent refunds
The student day of action is taking place across Yorkshire today (21st April)
Socialist Students, Young Socialists and the Youth Fight for Jobs campaign have called for a national day of action (21st April).
During the covid-19 pandemic, students have paid full tuition and accommodation fees, however, most people have had online-only teaching and in some cases, students say they couldn't live in accommodation because of lockdown restrictions.
Protests are taking place today in cities including Leeds and Bradford.
A first year student at the University of Leeds said:
"I'm an international student, I pay around £22,000, which is more than double for English students, and honestly it feels like an online course that I could do anywhere, and there's no sense of community or support."
Leeds Socialist Students activist Kat Gwyther said:
"Rent alone is between 6 to 9 thousand pounds in cities like Leeds and students have to work full time to pay these rents and they've lost those jobs, because they're normally casual jobs, hospitality jobs, so they've lost money to pay for that.
"It's just a complete scandal and students are completely left out of the question, completely ignored, there's not even a mention."