Mike Jennings, General Secretary of the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) said that IFUT fully backs the USI demonstration today (Oct. 19th) against underfunding of third-level education and proposals to introduce student loans.
Rejecting student loans, Mike Jennings said that “in Australia the National Tertiary Education Union points out that student loans take over 23 years to repay and include an extra $24,000 in interest.
“In the UK, the University and Colleges Union says students will continue paying student loans until their early 50’s.
“For a country with a tradition of emigration, do we really need one more incentive for graduates to go abroad - and stay there?”
“The government must face the fact that without adequate state funding our education system risks becoming unfit for purpose, with devastating consequences for our economy and society,” Mike Jennings said.
ENDS
For further information on this media release please contact:
John Gallagher - John Gallagher Consulting - Tel. 087 9369888
Mike Jennings - General Secretary, IFUT - Tel. 087 6776747
