English language schools must act now on refunds for international students
English language schools must act now on refunds for international students - The Labour Party
Labour spokesperson on further and higher education Senator Laura Harmon said international students must be swiftly refunded the provisional course fees paid by students whose visa applications were refused.
Senator Harmon said:
“It’s very shocking to learn from the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) that some prospective students are facing extraordinary delays on refunds for provisional fees paid. In cases where visa applications were refused, it beggars belief that some schools would be holding back the fees paid.
“Language students who have had their visa application refused must be treated fairly by the school they had applied to. The sums of money involved are not small, they are significant sums that cannot be foregone by people. This raising questions about how schools are governed and operate also which I will be raising with the Minister.
“It sends a very wrong message to prospective international students that they could be penalised through no fault of their own. Ireland is rightly proud of the quality English language education it offers to international students, and we should be encouraging students who wish to continue their studies in Ireland to do so.
“The delays in refunding the provisional fees risks bringing Ireland’s international reputation into question. I would urge the schools involved to act and resolve the situation for the people impacted immediately.”