Portsmouth students strike over education cuts in 1983

Portsmouth Polytechnic students deserted lecture halls to fill Commercial Road as they marched on the Guildhall in protest against education cuts.Â
Portsmouth Polytechnic students marching through Commercial Road in 1983.Portsmouth Polytechnic students marching through Commercial Road in 1983.
Portsmouth Polytechnic students marching through Commercial Road in 1983.

'˜How can there be decent standards if there are fewer books in the library, more people in a class, and less chance to see a tutor?' said Ruth Cadbury, a National Union of Students' executive member. 

'˜This government is spending millions on defence. We have got to say no to that '“ use the money to defend our education,' she said. 

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In a national day of action, some departments at Portsmouth Polytechnic were closed and only two students sat in some lectures while hundreds marched through the city centre handing out leaflets, collecting petition signatures and chanting slogans against education cuts.  

Representing the lecturers' union '“ the National Association of Teachers in Further and Higher Education '“ Dave Fysh also hit out at national cuts for Portsmouth Poly. 

'˜Standards in higher education are being made worse and worse,' said Mr Fysh. 

'˜The government is running the polytechnics so it looks as if more people are receiving higher education but less is being spent and standards are failing. Something needs to change.'Â