Since the threat of serious cuts to education in Northern Ireland surfaced in December last year, Socialist Youth have been campaigning to defend this vital public service from attack.

In Belfast, Socialist Youth called a picket of the Belfast Education and Library Board meeting on 16 December in protest at their decision to implement cuts on behalf of the government. However, scared of the negative publicity this would bring, the Board changed the time and location of their meeting so they could agree how to slash school funding and library provision in peace and quiet. We held our picket regardless, much to the annoyance of senior staff at the BELB. We got a good response, with one member of staff taking our poster to put up in his van.

A picket was also held at the meeting of the Western Education and Library Board in Omagh on 8 December, calling on them not to follow the Belfast Board, but to fight for proper funding for education. This picket wasn't made public, so the Board didn't have an opportunity to run and hide.

Ten members and supporters of Socialist Youth distributed leaflets to staff and passers-by explaining the threat to our education service and how we can build a movement to defend it. At this meeting, the WELB postponed any decision on education cuts. For the meeting of the Board on 23 March, members of Omagh Socialist Youth collected 250 signatures in one day from fellow students against these attacks on education. These were presented at WELB headquarters, but the Board folded under government pressure and agreed a package of cuts.

We need to fight to improve our education service, not just defend it as it stands. Under New Labour, we have seen a huge attack on third level education. Most students have to work long hours at a part-time job just to get by. This causes significant stress for these young people. Students are now faced with huge debts when leaving university, which discourages working class people from entering third-level education. Education is a right, not a privilege. Socialist Youth call for the reversal of all cuts in education and for free third level education for all those who want to study, with the scrapping of tuition and top-up fees and the establishment of a living grant for all students.

The elections are looming with many issues relating to young people on the cards, yet the voting age remains at 18 and the age to stand as a candidate at 21.

Socialist Youth calls for both these ages to be lowered to 16. Surely this makes sense, as at 16 you are required to pay taxes to the government if working and can become financially independent.

At present the main parties can ignore issues relating to young people, as they are not relying on their votes. Socialist Party candidates do not, however, and will stand against education cuts and unfair wages for young people, and other issues the sectarian parties continue to ignore.

New Labour have announced an increase in the minimum wage from October this year to £5.05 per hour for those 22 years old and over and £4.25 per hour for those from 18-21.

However, 16 and 17 year old workers are being left out of the increase and will still only have a disgustingly low minimum wage of £3 per hour.

There is no evidence that younger workers are any less productive than their older counterparts. This is blatant discrimination on the grounds of age and allows bosses to exploit young people as a pool of cheap labour.

Young people deserve the same pay for the same work! Socialist Youth is campaigning for a minimum wage of £6 per hour, to be paid from age 16 up.