While watching the news tonight, my tune on the National March against the proposed increase in College fees changed. Some will call me, a mé féiner, but I think what the Government is proposing is idiotic. Doubling the Registration Fee is stupid. Cutting the Grant is stupid. Placing a €500 fee on post leaving cert courses is stupid. How are we supposed to afford an education in this county? Even a PLC? We need to properly fund the education...
Image via Wikipedia Today I had the joy of joining members of the European Movement Ireland in part of their schools roadshow on the European Union. Today we visited Colaiste Mhuire in Crosshaven. Leading the show was Andrea Pappin, the Executive Director, and she was joined with by Billie Sparks, the Education and Advocacy Director. I stood quiet in the coner! We were dealing with transition year students. Andrea started off the workshop by explaining about the history of...
Image via Wikipedia Received this via email this morning: Student Outrage as UCC Impose Conferring Levy on Students- YFG UCC students were left wondering if they were being hit by a bad April fool’s joke from college authorities last night following an email sent to all students informing them of a new €65 conferring fee to be introduced from April 1st. The charge of €65 will apply to each student and their two guests choosing to attend their conferring...
Image via Wikipedia When I heard the news that Batt O’Keeffe was suggesting that that National University of Ireland be abolished, I initially thought it was a good idea. Then I stopped and thought about it and realised he must be reading from the same book that Enda was reading from! Abolishing NUI is bad idea. Yes it will save money, but not a whole lot. The NUI serves some useful functions, and it would serve more if third...
Today’s Sunday Tribune has an article suggesting that the Junior Certificate exams could be “axed to save €30″. Is that really a good idea though? While the Junior Cert isn’t really worth much on its own, it is a valuable testing ground for students and a practice for the Leaving Cert. I know the tests and that are shoter for the Junior Cert, but if we abolish it, students wouldnt have a clue what to expect going into the...
Argh Strikes!!!
So we were informed today in Class that our teachers are going on Strike next Tuesday. It turns out that teachers in Further Education Colleges, like Cork College of Commerce, are represented by the Teachers Union of Ireland, so they are going on strike for the day as they have handed notice into the VEC. They will be joining the other unions taking part in the National Strike on Tuesday 24th. Also clerical staff who’s union is one of...
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