Met with widespread outrage online, a petition set up online has amassed over 5,000 signatures so far.
The usual two-week Gaeltacht stay will be replaced by a virtual course for primary school teachers in training at Hibernia College this year, with students shocked to learn that it will still incur a €650 fee (€1,300 for the course in its entirety).
Unable to go ahead with the in-person experience as in other years, the course has been moved completely online to accommodate current public health measures. Expecting that the former price of €750 per fortnight – which includes full food, board, language lessons and activities – would be greatly reduced to reflect this, student teachers have been shocked to learn that this is not the case.
Not eligible for government grants that cover Gaeltacht costs, student teachers attending Hibernia College will be forced to come up with the money themselves in order to attend.
Causing widespread outrage online, a petition has since been set up to dispute the cost – amassing over 5,000 signatures so far. Also penning a letter to the Department of Education, students have banded together to express their “frustration and anger” at the “exorbitant” cost.
“Unlike our colleagues in all other teaching training colleges in Ireland, we do not qualify for the Gaeltacht Grant of €650, reintroduced last year by Minister for Education & Skills Joe McHugh.
“For the approximately 800 Hibernia teachers qualifying in 2021, in addition to the 950 due to qualify in 2022, the high cost of this course and lacking of funding is now a daunting and immediate concern- in an already stressful time where many of us find ourselves unemployed, unable to claim PUP as we are deemed full-time students and unable to undertake substitute teaching as schools are currently closed.”
Commenting that they are “continually excluded” from accessing vital funding, students said that they find the situation thoroughly “disheartening”.
Making renewed calls for the issue to be resolved, the letter finishes by appealing to ministers to create “a fair, equitable and accessible learning environment” for all.
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