Educate to be Free Forum

Ógra Shinn Féin recently held a youth forum on Education in Dublin’s Teacher’s Club.

The ‘Educate to be Free’ Forum was attended by secondary school, university students, and young workers alike and was divided up into three sections.

The first part of the forum was a talk on the ‘Educate to be Free’ campaign and how we need to be proactive on various issues, including student fees, the 11+, Irish language education and the Bologna process.



Short presentations where delivered by Republican activist and author Jim Monaghan, UCD Ógra activist Mick Reynolds, and a member of the FEE campaigning group.

The second part of the forum included video showings on important aspects of Education, and the areas we need to highlight and campaign for change in.

And the last part of the forum was a debate on ‘Free education for everyone?’ with two Ógra activists arguing the merits of each of their position.

Their presentations will be posted on the blog soon to widen out the discussion, spark debate, and give people a deeper understanding of our position, and to aid preparation when asked to explain what we mean by free education and how we can fund it.

The debate that flowed was lively to say the least and no doubt provided much food for thought for all those in attendance.

Forums like this as where organised in Dublin are of great importance to engage young people on issues, and should be organised at a local level, with a local slant to interest young people where ever you live.

The ‘Educate to be Free’ campaign will see a boost throughout the summer month, allowing us time to organise and highlight the message effectively at freshers and new school terms.

Be imaginative, be a republican and get active on the campaign!