Cross border co-operation needed for further education.
Published: 15 July, 2006
Buncrana Town councilor Daren Lalor claims there is a possibility that students from the 26 counties may soon be unable to attend further education colleges in the 6 counties.
The Sinn Fein councilor claims come after the British government recently cut its budget for the Further Education Sector by 9 million. This budget previously stood at 32 million in 2005/6 and is now currently 23 million for 2006/7.
Cllr Lalor said, "We have a situation where there is a strong possibility that further education students from the 26 counties may soon become unable to attend colleges in the 6 counties. Since the British government has slashed its Further Education budget by 9 million, some colleges are feeling the pinch and have subsequently complained about the unfair budget given to colleges near the border who are able to attract a higher ratio of students.
There is approximately 4 to 5000 students from the 26 counties that avail of either full or part time courses at The North West Institute, Fermanagh and Newry. The reality is that if college reserves run dry then they will not be in a position to sustain the inclusion of these students.
Our government, have indicated that they may pay for training in priority skills, areas such as construction trades, but health and beauty courses and other low level training do not appear too high on their priority list."
The Sinn Fein councilor concluded, "We deserve clarity over this issue, my party colleges on education both sides
of the border are pressing for a joint meeting as soon as possible to ensure that students and teaching staff are not denied the opportunity to learn or teach those seeking further education. We cannot and must not accept the denial of education and learning services to any student because of partition, all parties must play their part in delivering the harmonisation of an all Ireland Further Education System."
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