Ben Friel, NUS-USI President responds to the call to increase tuition fees in Northern Ireland
“The student movement in Northern Ireland stands united in condemning calls from university leaders to increase tuition fees in Northern Ireland, at a time when levels of student poverty and financial hardship are out of control on our campuses.
Putting the burden of a broken university system on students is not the answer.
Universities across the UK are in financial crisis, even where students are paying over £9,000 in fees. Students are paying the price for a sector wide crisis and lack of government strategy.
Higher education creates nurses, teachers, engineers, artists and business leaders who are vital to a functioning society. It is time for Northern Ireland to stop looking at education as a drain on its budget and to start seeing it as a worthy investment in our future.
Last year, former Economy Minister Conor Murphy ruled out a fee hike, saying it would put education “out of reach.” He was right. We’re calling on Minister Caoimhe Archibald to keep that promise."
ENDS
In light of this announcement, NUS-USI have launched a Don't Increase Our Fees petition to send a clear message. No more tuition fee increases. Students deserve better.
Click the link below to sign the petition.
Don't increase our Fees - NUS-USI
