FG cannot continue to be evasive on Higher Education funding
Labour Party Education spokesperson, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin has said that unless the Minister for Education addresses the issues with higher education funding, the sector will remain stagnant.
Senator Ó Ríordáin said:
“While I am no fan of education ranking systems, the fact that Irish universities continue to fall in the QS World University Rankings, is a damning inditement of the lack of the lack of investment in the third level sector.
“We hear the Minister for Education repeat ad nauseum that he wants to create the best education and training system in Europe, however precarious work is rife in our universities, student-teacher ratios are rapidly increasing and there is a huge problem with under-investment.
“Like in our primary and secondary schools, many employees in the third level sector are leaving Ireland for better opportunities in universities abroad, where there is better job security and conditions.
“The Minister cannot continue to hide behind Action Plans that are not delivering and the Oireachtas Committee on Education when it comes to the future funding of third level education. Fine Gael cannot continue to be so evasive on this issue.”