The plans would mean swingeing cuts to higher education funding, a tripling of tuition fees to £9,000 and the scrapping of the education maintenance allowance (EMA) which is a lifeline to millions of young people studying at colleges.
The campaign asks families to send letters and emails to their MPs making clear their objections to the plans ahead of the vote on the issue next Thursday.
Radio presenter Liz Kershaw, who has one son already attending university and another studying at sixth form who will be directly affected by the Government’s plans, is supporting the campaign.
Commenting on her opposition to the plans, Liz Kershaw, said:
“Education is for the common good. David Cameron has said recently “The prosperity of our nation depends on the skills of its people” Too right. Students should not have to pay personally to acquire those skills. Society should. It benefits from it. Otherwise what next? Charging kids to do GCSEs? Or tiny tots to learn to read and write?”
Aaron Porter, NUS President, said:
“Over the past few weeks I have been contacted by a great number of parents who are desperately concerned about how their children will be affected. They understand the Government’s plans and are deeply worried about the future."
“They have asked me what they should say to children who want to pursue their ambitions in the arts or in humanities but are getting the message from the Government that these subjects are worthless.”
“Many of the parents we speak to, and their children, will join student protests around the country but others are looking for other ways of making their feelings known and the www.familiesagainstfees.co.uk website gives them an easy to contact their MPs and to express their concerns.”
A family supporting the campaign
Alison Smith, a 16 year old A-level student at a London sixth form college said:
"I feel very frightened at the thought of starting my adult life with such huge debts before even trying to find somewhere to live and maybe get a mortgage. I always thought I would be going to university but now the thought of it is worrying and not exciting."
Jane Salisbury, Alison's mother, said:
"I feel betrayed that the generation politicians and movers and shakers who had their own university education paid for by my parent's and my own taxes are now denying my daughter and her generation the same privilege. It's a sickening I'm Alright Jack attitude."
Colin Smith, Alison's father, said:
"I oppose higher tuition fees because they will discourage students from going to university and saddle those who do go with unacceptably high levels of debt. These are the potential doctors, designers, scientists and engineers of the future and we need to invest in them to enable Britain to compete effectively and generate economic growth."
Find out more about Families Against Fees at this website.