NUI Galway Students’ Union (SU ) today joined USI and NUS-USI in the launch of the Education for All campaign which is calling for immediate action on higher education funding.
The organization that represents 374,000 students across the island of Ireland has written an open letter to Minister Simon Harris asking him to take action on a number of key areas; an end to the student contribution charge of €3000, the highest in the EU; a move toward publicly funded education at the heart of Government policy; a publicly financed student accommodation building strategy and charter for student tenant rights; a reform of student supports across the island that match the cost of being a student in the new decade; and an end to precarious working conditions for academic staff.
NUI Galway Students’ Union president Pádraic Toomey said the SU was calling for an immediate reduction of €500 on the student contribution charge in Budget 2021.
He said; "This charge, which is the highest in the EU is a major barrier to students accessing Higher education. Today students are calling on their TDs to sign up to a pledge which would commit them to campaigning on the issues outlined in the letter to Minister Harris. We are urging our local representatives to sign up to this pledge.”
NUI Galway Students’ Union vice-president/education officer Emma Sweeney said NUI Galway students and their families are suffering greatly with job losses, financial uncertainty and the increasing rent rates in Galway.
She said; "We need our TDs to take action on higher education and not treat it as an afterthought. Every €1 invested in higher education delivers €4 to the wider economy. Galway is a student city and without our students the city will suffer hugely.”
