Uladh Ógra Shinn Féin organiser Pádraig Quinn is urging everyone to sign a petition calling on minister for employment and learning Danny Kennedy MLA, to make the commitment in ensuring education maintenance allowance is not withdrawn and student tuition fees are not increased.
As of yet both EMA and student fees have not been altered within the north, however, they are under review, and following the recent withdrawal of EMA in England, and the hike in university fees to £9000 a year, many students within Ireland are becoming increasing concerned that the north will soon follow.
Speaking on this important issue, Padraig said:
“Sinn Fein believes Education is a right, not a privilege!
EMA is not just a ‘token thirty pound’ a week, or a small incentive to stay in full time education; it is for a lot of young people, and indeed their family’s, the deciding factor in whether they can afford to continue education, or be forced to go straight into the workplace.
Over the past few months, Sinn Fein has made it clear that EMA needs to be retained to ensure that those who wish to pursue their education are able to do so.
We must be very clear and note that the final say in whether EMA is withdrawn and fees are increased lies within the hands of Danny Kennedy.
The simple fact that he has not yet committed to retaining EMA or the cap on tuition fess, is both astonishing and disgraceful.
Ogra are calling on all students, parents and concerned members of the public to sign our petition and demand that our young people’s rights are not abused and their future is not restricted”.
The petition can be viewed at: http://www.petitionbuzz.com/petitions/saveema
1 comment:
Done!
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