CHANGE OF LEGISLATION FOR GAELTACHT FEES

Students should not have to pay almost full subsidy when they are not attending the galeact

How can you charge that amount money for something the students will be doing in their home.

I think this is unfair. All Students should be treated the same.

-

Absolutely scandalous delighted to see people actually standing up for themselves once and for all

This is going to affect me hugely over the next 15 years

Very important to see the Gaeltacht survive but these are tough times for everyone

Had no idea this was happening!! Appalling carry on! Good luck with your petition. Hope it helps ye.

I am emailing today as a Professional Masters of Education in Primary Teaching (PMEP) student of Hibernia College Dublin to convey the frustration and anger brought about due to the recent announcement regarding our upcoming Gaeltacht experience. Also, I wish to highlight the continued exclusion of my peers and I from student supports afforded to our colleagues in state-supported teaching colleges. As students undertaking initial teacher training, we, like the thousands of teachers before us, must complete an immersive Gaeltacht course to comply with Teaching Council requirements. It is a course that serves not only as a fully immersive language learning experience but also one which fostered a grá for Gaeilge in the generations of teachers who have gone before of us. In an era pre-Covid, this immersive experience took the form of a two-week block in the summers of our first and second year of the program. The cost, €750 per fortnight (€1,500 in total) was high yet was justified as it included full food and board and all language lessons and activities. As third level students, it was an expensive outlay, but we knew it would best support language acquisition and ultimately prepare us to inspire future generations of Gaeilgeoirí. Unfortunately, due to current and expected summer restrictions, the prospect of attending the Gaeltacht is no longer a viable option for students. As such, an alternative has been proposed by a working group established by the Department of Education and Skills and Department of the Gaeltacht. Like its predecessor, it is a two-week language learning course, but the immersive experience, language lessons and activities are now replaced with a fully online experience undertaken in students' homes- all for a cost of €650 per fortnight (€1,300 in total). An exorbitant price given the course provider now will not have to incur the cost of food, lodgings and room rental generally associated with the Gaeltacht experience.

Unfair charges

As a parent of a Hibernia student I think it's appalling that they have to pay such a huge amount for online Gaeltacht

Signing in solidarity as an ex Hibernia student. This is ridiculous.

A very unfair charge on students considering they will get none of the benefits of a residential Gaeltacht. It seems like an arbitrary amount. What is the breakdown of this charge? Who is getting paid?

Absurd. The poor students have enough on their plate without an extra fee for sitting at home trying to learn. I just can't believe this scandalous fee.. not worth it!! Gaeltacht need to seriously review or let the college take over with their leftover payments from students. #PMEGaeltachtFeeforFree

A JOKE

I think it’s disgraceful to expect these students to pay that fee while sitting at home on zoom it has been hard enough this past year for them doing the course with every teacher training being pulled as the schools close

It's an absolute disgrace

Disgrace to the nation. Giving everyone else subsidies but the private colleges can’t get anything. Norma foley you let down the kingdom of Kerry and the country of Ireland with your low life standards and morales. Wake up.

Time to get in touch with the real world we currently live in.