#SoActWeek campaign against student loan sell-off

A new student group is campaigning to raise awareness of the implications of the student loan book sale.

The coalition government has already sold the debts of pre-1998 students and is expected to sell the 1998-2012 loans off imminently. This could have a huge effect on the loan repayments of graduates and current students.

Southampton Action Week has been planned as part of a wider national effort to alert students to the government’s actions and demonstrate opposition to the sale. The national campaign has support from the NUS, while SUSU is supporting the Southampton group.

Today the #SoActWeek team will have representitives at various Southampton campuses to chat with other students about the issue and encourage them to sign the petition for the government to reconsider their actions.

In a statement, the #SoActWeek team said:

Our view is that the proposed sale of the 1998 – 2012 loan book is one that fails to make long­ term economic sense for the Treasury. We believe that it is morally wrong to let a private company profit from a public debt.

Students should not be penalised for being proactive and investing in their future through Higher Education. The proposed sale would further impact already substantial tuition fees and resultant debt costs.

Will you be signing the petition? Do you believe it matters who owns your student loan? Let us know below!