This Is Guernsey

HUNDREDS of students have joined a protest against the introduction of student loans.

Since its launch on Wednesday, 570 Facebook members have signed up to the group: Fair Funding for Guernsey Students – Fight the current loans proposal.

Within 24 hours of setting up the site, 23-year-old Andrew McGovern said he had 250 people asking to join it. ‘It was absolutely amazing because I have never seen a Guernsey group grow so fast, it’s so encouraging,’ he said.

The second-year Brighton and Sussex Medical School student said he was inspired to start the group by Deputy Matt Fallaize’s decision to bring a requete to the States to try to overturn the decision to introduce student loans.

‘I think Deputy Fallaize will be regarded a hero if he manages to get the decision overturned and we are giving him all the support we can,’ said Mr McGovern.

‘He is just fantastic at communicating.

‘He has emailed me, contributed to forums on the issue and given away his email address to anyone who wants to discuss the matter, and it’s really helping young people get involved.’

Mr McGovern said that although the ultimate goal of the group was to have the introduction of loans cancelled, the short-term aim was also to encourage youngsters to voice their opinions and take an interest in politics.

‘It is so important that they feel their viewpoints are valid and that they will be taken seriously by the States.

‘They are the future of the island and they need to have that confidence,’ he said, adding that he believed Facebook has many advantages as a forum for the group’s cause.

‘It is so popular among students and as we are all scattered across the UK it is a place where we can still get together to discuss things and share our views on a subject.’

He said the only disadvantage was that more adults weren’t on the site to contribute to the forum and read the posted opinions. Of all those posts, so far only a couple have said they doubt they can change the States’ decision.

‘Everyone is really motivated to take action and petition their deputies, mostly because so many Guernsey people would be discouraged from going to university if they had to take out a loan, and that’s very sad,’ he said.