Student March in Dublin- 16th November

PomBear

Why We’re Marching:

1. The government are considering increasing the already too-high €2,000 fee. The students must make Labour honour it’s pre-election pledge to not increase fees.

2. The government are also considering cutting the student grant – again. This will only drive struggling students out of education and onto the dole queue.

3. We need a fair deal for student nurses. They should be paid for their 4th year placements and not forced to work the wards for free.

4. Our Mature Students need support, not cuts. They have been denied the grant which they need to stay in college.

We will be organising buses to the demonstration (leaving Galway 11.30am, back in Galway at 9pm). Call up to the SU offices in Áras na Mac Léinn to book your place (€3 with SU Card, tickets available from Monday).

Interested in sleeping out in a tent in front of the Dáil after the march? Call up to the SU office and talk to Emmet, or email su.president@nuigalway.ie with your name and phone number for more info.

Wednesday 16th November - Defend Access to Education

Croppy Bhoy

PomBear wrote: »

3. We need a fair deal for student nurses. They should be paid for their 4th year placements and not forced to work the wards for free.

This disgusts me. I know someone doing Occupational Therapy and it's the same craic, they have to work full time from now til Christmas and not even getting paid. How on earth do the people in charge think that's even remotely acceptable? Human labour is a commodity and can be stolen just the same as money or possessions. Thieving bastards.

PomBear

Croppy Bhoy wrote: »

This disgusts me. I know someone doing Occupational Therapy and it's the same craic, they have to work full time from now til Christmas and not even getting paid. How on earth do the people in charge think that's even remotely acceptable? Human labour is a commodity and can be stolen just the same as money or possessions. Thieving bastards.

Looks like he's gonna back down. Think there's going to be a compromise

daffodil14

2. The government are also considering cutting the student grant – again. This will only drive struggling students out of education and onto the dole queue.



If they cut the grant it'll push so many people out of college. I know a lot of people who don't get it and struggle. But I for one wouldnt be in college yet alone doing my masters if it wasn't for it and I wouldnt like to see others deprived of the opportunity to further their education because they can't afford it.

Raging_Ninja

so are certain individuals going to try and hijack it in order to try and start a riot like last time?

Croppy Bhoy

The worst thing about cutting grants and increasing fees is that it stymies current students.

I paid €5800 to return to college, something my family could just about afford. I'm in a situation where if the government increase fees or cut grants, I will not be able to afford to continue but at the same time can't really afford to drop out either, as I will have basically thrown away 8+ grand. These sort of measures should have a 3-4 year delay in their implementation/

daffodil14

i'm one of the few that it won't affect because i'll be graduated next year from masters but it has helped me so much and I love what i'm doing, I think its only fair that everyone else is given the opportunity just like I was.

bildo

This should be a fun day out

challengemaster

Croppy Bhoy wrote: »

This disgusts me. I know someone doing Occupational Therapy and it's the same craic, they have to work full time from now til Christmas and not even getting paid. How on earth do the people in charge think that's even remotely acceptable? Human labour is a commodity and can be stolen just the same as money or possessions. Thieving bastards.

Erm, people doing medicine have 2.5 years (5 semesters) of unpaid placement afaik...

Croppy Bhoy

challengemaster wrote: »

Erm, people doing medicine have 2.5 years (5 semesters) of unpaid placement afaik...

Thanks for your input. You've worded it like it's supposed to refute my point or something...

NewApproach

PomBear wrote: »

1. The government are considering increasing the already too-high €2,000 fee. The students must make Labour honour it’s pre-election pledge to not increase fees.

What makes it too high?

Why not charge whatever the cost of the education is (say 10k) and set up a proper government backed student loan system?

PomBear

NewApproach wrote: »

What makes it too high?

Why not charge whatever the cost of the education is (say 10k) and set up a proper government backed student loan system?

Because people can't afford it now, they couldn't afford to come back in September, there's more that won't afford it next year.

A student loan system supports the fact that we will be able to afford it on graduation where there is nothing to say that is the case. Also students on the current level will already pay the college 10k in fees. Also if you want to see a clear example of why a loan system doesn't work, see what happened to Australia...

Reillyman

PomBear wrote: »

Because people can't afford it now, they couldn't afford to come back in September, there's more that won't afford it next year.

A student loan system supports the fact that we will be able to afford it on graduation where there is nothing to say that is the case. Also students on the current level will already pay the college 10k in fees. Also if you want to see a clear example of why a loan system doesn't work, see what happened to Australia...

The reality that some people won't be able to repay the loan is factored into the system by actuarys, so that takes care of that.

Also students on the current level will already pay the college 10k in fees.

What do you mean?

What happened in Australia? I googled it but couldn't find anything much.