The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on every political party to pledge to uphold Free Fees if elected to government. At a demonstration held outside DIT Bolton Street on 23 April, students demanded that every party puts this commitment in its general election manifesto. The development of a hierarchy in education must be resisted, USI said. Students 'cannot reach the top' unless Free Fees are protected and student grants are increased by the next government. 'It is vital that Ireland does not retreat from Free Fees after the next election, so students are calling on all the parties to pledge to uphold them. Every party must include a commitment to Free Fees in its election manifesto. 'Higher education should not be reserved only for the rich. Yet many students already face exclusion from Irish colleges because they don't receive enough financial support from the government. 'Student grants are too low and cover less than half the cost of living for students, but if the next government abandoned Free Fees, inequality would increase. 'Free Fees are the bedrock on which fairness rests. Students and young people will be horrified if any of the parties fails to make a manifesto promise about upholding them,' said USI President Colm Hamrogue.