Thursday January 01 1970
Irish Education Forum
dublin |
eu |
event notice 
Tuesday February 17, 2004 15:56
by Aidan - Dep Pres UCDSU
deputy.president at ucd dot ie
Preparations to be made , Teachers Club Saturday 2pm
This Saturday UCDSU is trying to organise as many activists as possible to create the beginings of an Irish Education Forum. It is hoped that it will be organised for the 18th and 19th March as an alternative to the OECD meeting that is taking place in Dublin Castle that same weekend.
In yesterdays edition of the Irish Times it was reported that the OECD have begun preparations with the HEA (not reported) to review and overhall the the Third level sector in Ireland. The Paris based group will propse to streamline both the university and IT sector. It will equally propse to introduce third level fees to substitute the chronic lack of funding by the government in the sector. This lack of funding has also opened the flood gates and recommened by the OECD for further involvment of big buisness in the funding of higher education. It has become obvious that this problem like every other threat to public services is not entirely local. It is an attempt by a Neo Liberal Europe to sell off public services into the private market and turn education into a commodity to be bought and sold at will to the highest bidder. Education as it is is already a privelege to an elite sector of the Irish society. It is time that students and activists decided were our education is going. Education is a right and the essence of social justice and equity. THe agenda as to were our Education is going will and should be decided by students. Equal opportunity is central to all decisions on education as are access and fairness.
That is why on the 18 and 19th March an Irish Education will be held to organise and resist the neo liberal agenda that is being imposed on us. A public meeting open to all will be held in the Teachers Club at 2pm this Saturday to make preparations for the weekend.
Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6could such a process not take place inside USI. After all you are a member.
As best I know USI were involved in the Irish Education Forum, but for reasons best known to themselves they pulled out, so the forum is going ahead without them.
I don't think the forum is any threat to USI, the more efforts there are made to organise students at a grassroots level the better.
USI will esentially be two people.......trying to involve 200,000 plus students is more important
Equality in education is vital and I support your innitative.
I returned to Trinity as a mature student and with acquired brain damage disability. The timing was appropriate as the EU funds were provided for third level students with disabilities.
The issue I have is the inability of the Universities to take the long term vision as to the contribution people with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds can make to enhancing the inclusiveness of Irish society.
I have no degree from Trinity but I have an education through the people I met and our shared life experiences.
I fear now that funds are being withdrawn Universities in Ireland will take a retrograde step backwards. People with vision will note that it is the structures, procedures, over emphasis on technology, etc. that will provide that inverted snobbery that is in market place.
There is nothing wrong with difference - it enhances.
I lived in Zimbabwe and watched the programme about Mugage last night......the youth groups, the commands, the structures......no room for creativity just widgets and minions.
The final point. As a person with disabilities, it is more beneficial for me to write. I am horrified at the inabilility of places like the HEA; CORI; Trinity; University of Galway to fail to respond. I reckon I have missed out on something major and all are afraid to correspond with students or commentators for fear of legal action!!!!!! This is a sad reflection on our society.
Vision, Creativity, Equal Opportunities, Equal Access........Wake up..........Time to embrace the real world.
Gandhi quotation
'You have to be the change you want to see'
Michelle
USI leadership refused to back this because it was seen to be 'too left wing' and against the governments EU presidency.
Remember what Priestly, Archibald etc tell us, the government are our partners we don't want to piss them off.
Plan for Day of Action against OECD education Ministers in Dublin Castle. Friday March 19th
11.30- 1pm- Open Discussion on the Privatisation of Education, what it means and how to oppose it.
2.15pm- Demonstrate for free, accesible and public education.
Taking place outside Dublin Castle.
4pm- Building the Education movement
Taking place in the Teachers Club.
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