FIGHT FOR FREE EDUCATION BEGINS

national | miscellaneous | news report

Friday September 20, 2002 16:02

by Campaign For Free Education - Campaign For Free Education

FIGHT FOR FREE EDUCATION BEGINS. The Campaign For Free Education, a newly formed group of ordinary third level students has slammed the governments decision to increase college registration fees by 69%.

Group PRO Paul Dillon said
"This is a serious attack on access to education in this country. The move will increase the drop out rate from colleges, and present a further barrier to higher education."

The group is calling on all students and their families to mount opposition to the increase. the Campaign believes that it is only through mass action of ordinary students that the fee increase will be defeated. The campaign is not just fighting for a rolling back to July 17th, before the current increase, but for truly free education which means an end to all financial obstacles placed in the way of students.

Group Secretary Paul Murphy said
"Students must launch a substantial and concerted campign aganist fees. I fear that the fee will be increased next year unless students launch a significant campiagn."

The group also condemned the governements deciosin to slash the budget of third level access schemes, designed to make entry to college easier for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The group's spokesperson James Redmond said that
"The recent attack on students fits in to a wider context of attacks upon public services and ordinary people. If the Skilbeck report issued a number of months ago is anything to go by then unless we organise a fightback now, we can expect further attacks on education, such as the reintroduction orf full fess and an abolition of the grant similar to what has happened on the continent.'

CONTACT DETAILS:

http://www.freeeducation.cjb.net

email: irshcfe@yahoo.co.uk

Phone:

James Redmond 085 719 8001

Paul Dillon 085 720 6574

Paul Murphy 085 723 8161