Cops welcomed with smoke bombs and flares Dublin Pride 19:57 Jul 14 0 comments Gemma O'Doherty: The speech you never heard. I wonder why? 05:28 Jan 15 0 comments A Decade of Evidence Demonstrates The Dramatic Failure Of Globalisation 15:39 Aug 23 1 comments Thatcher's " blind eye" to paedophilia 15:27 Mar 12 0 comments Total Revolution. A new philosophy for the 21st century. 15:55 Nov 17 0 comments more >>Blog Feeds
The SakerA bird's eye view of the vineyard
Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Public InquiryInterested in maladministration. Estd. 2005RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Human Rights in IrelandIndymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy
Lockdown Skeptics
News Round-Up Wed Jul 31, 2024 01:30 | Richard Eldred
Biden Proposes Sweeping Supreme Court Reforms as He Attacks ?Extreme? Judges Tue Jul 30, 2024 19:00 | Will Jones
Reeves Scraps Winter Fuel Payments for 10 Million Pensioners to Fund Public Sector Wage Rise Tue Jul 30, 2024 17:00 | Will Jones
A Summary of Why the Czech Republic Vaccine Data are So Devastating to the ?Safe and Effective? Narr... Tue Jul 30, 2024 15:00 | Will Jones
Keir Starmer?s Anti-Israel Policies Are Now No Different to Jeremy Corbyn?s Tue Jul 30, 2024 13:00 | Will Jones |
Students Storm Dept Of Education
dublin |
miscellaneous |
news report
Tuesday September 02, 2008 00:54 by Students - USI
Students Stage a Short Occupation to Highlight The Fact that They Are Against Third Level Fees More than 50 students stormed the gates of the Department of Education in Dublin this afternoon, in protest against any reintroduction of third level fees. The students ran past security and into the grounds of the building to highlight their anger. |
View Comments Titles Only
save preference
Comments (7 of 7)
Jump To Comment: 7 6 5 4 3 2 1''Usual reaction to a middle class protest''
Since when is access to university a middle class issue, surely if fees were to be re-introduced the non middle class would be affected the most.
Mr Man, your response to the first point about parents having difficulty is a classic one
"If their kids can't even figure out a means test form, them maybe they shouldn't be going to college in the first place."
In case you haven't noticed we are all living on one society. We all have to pay taxes to support this economy and welfare system. If their kids don't go to college as you suggest what happens then? The way our economy is going it will be a life time of dole payments and income support. This would cost at todays welfare levels over €500,000!
Why not help this person to get as good an education as possible in order for them to participate in our knowledge based economy and contribute to the tax system. Much better value for everyone's money.
The current form for the grants means test around 20 pages long. It requires knowledge of parents income levels for 2007 by either getting a p21 from the tax office or a statement of income from the social welfare.
Sure alot of students will have no problem with this but many do have problems. I deal with them every day. Its a huge stress for them and their families. Your answer to this problem? "they shouldn't be going to college in the first place" offers no solution for them or for society it only makes us all worse off in the long run.
"You may think its not rocket science but parents with literacy difficulties get themselves into a right state worrying about filling out forms. Many give up once the form is sent back because a mistake has been made. "
Well, surely their aspiring college student children should give them a hand there, no? If their kids can't even figure out a means test form, them maybe they shouldn't be going to college in the first place.
And if they simply give up on sending their kids to college just because they can't figure out a form or ask for help, that's the govenments fault? How much spoon feeding do we need? Should we stop all dole related paperwork just because the people who want free money don't like figuring out a form?
"Other problems with means tests like this include students who are estranged from their parents due to drug use, violence at home etc... and they are expected to go and ask these parents to get them proof of income etc... "
A fair point, but you could use the same argument for any beaurocratic process. Registering for schools, applying for a loan etc.
Mr Man,
Many people especially parents find the CAO forms and the forms for the means tested grants very complicated. In my job I have spent the last month sitting down with parents filling out grant forms.
You may think its not rocket science but parents with literacy difficulties get themselves into a right state worrying about filling out forms. Many give up once the form is sent back because a mistake has been made.
Other problems with means tests like this include students who are estranged from their parents due to drug use, violence at home etc... and they are expected to go and ask these parents to get them proof of income etc...
Are you getting the picture now?
Don't get me wrong, I am against re-introduction of fees but how was the process complicated? Fairly straight forward as I recall. And means tests aren't exactly rocket science. Been out of the loop for a while, is it still people with family income of over 100grand or something who will have to pay fees?
The students need to keep the issue in the media as much as possible and they will defeat it as they have done before.
I admit that some times students can seem self serving but access to free education has a benefit for all in society not just these students. Think of the big picture !
We should be pressing to end the subsidies given to private schools instead of reintroducing fees. Also we should be pushing for a proper pre school system which is where the problem of educational segregation begins in our country.
Reintroducing third level fees will only raise €15 million (a drop in ocean in real terms) but will keep some out of college that would have gone and add a means test which is unnecessary bureaucracy to an already complicated applications process.
"Garda, swiftly moved them"!!!!!!!!!!!
The protesters were on the grounds for about 15 minutes before the garda strolled along, and comprised of 3 male & 1 female officers, who walked over to the protesters. This was followedby a garda car with 2 officers about 5 minutes later. They allowed the protest to finish and then they all left together.
Usual reaction to a middle class protest - more usual in this area for Garda to arrive by the van loan in riot gear, and end any gathering swiftly.
Just like the tribunals one law for the establishment and another for the working classes.