MARCH 25 will see the biggest national demonstration against education cuts for many years. It has been called by an ad-hoc campaign, FACE (Fight Against Cuts in Education), which cuts across conventional party lines.
Parents, school governors, school students and teachers from all over the country and from all political backgrounds have been showing that they reject the Tory policy of cutting schools to finance tax cuts for the rich.
Governors in many schools have been refusing point blank to make the kind of cuts forced upon them by government under-funding and councils meekly passing on the problem.
Some have resigned en bloc. Others have voted through deficit budgets, defying local education authorities to step in and take direct control. These bold actions must be supported locally by strong campaigns targeting the councillors that voted through the cuts.
Teachers in many areas have already staged protest strikes.
But with thousands of jobs at state, not cut it back. stake, and the threat this poses to class sizes, many may have to contemplate more determined action.
They will find tremendous support. On education, as on the NHS, there is an overwhelming public consensus against the Tory policy of squeezing spending - and their hidden agenda of forcing increased numbers to contemplate private provision.
And there is irritation at the lack of any clear alternative from Tony Blair's new, toothless Labour Party. The vast majority of people want to defend and improve our welfare The protests and the battles on education will go on in the localities long after March 25 Local branches of FACE must be built to unite all those committed to saving our schools.
But links can also be made with those fighting health cuts and other attacks on the welfare state.
On April 8 in London a conference of the Welfare State Network will bring together people defending education, the NHS and pensions. All campaigners are welcome. (Details page 4) Together we can beat the cuts!
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 80, March 25 1995, Page 2