An application to the English High Court for judicial review proceedings in relation to the United Kingdom government's decision to treble university tuition fees will be made in the coming week. The case is funded through legal aid and is being taken by students to challenge the decision to raise fees from £3,375 a year this year to a proposed £9,000.
The students will be represented by Public Interest Lawyers. Phil Shiner of Public Interest Lawyers says the fee increase will adversely and disproportionately affect students from lower-income homes, in breach of equality legislation and Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (non-discrimination). He commented "the government has rushed these changes through parliament in the wake of the 2010 spending review without pausing for real thought, analysis or consultation on the likely significant impact of the coalition policy."
The action comes at a time of third level education fees uncertainty and controversy in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. Should the issue of increase of third level education fees find a legal footing, it could have implications for third level students in Ireland.
Please click here to view a legal opinion from leading human rights chambers Matrix Chambers on education fee increases and the duty of non-retrogression under international human rights law.
Please click here to view a Guardian article.