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MIC President calls for independent arbritration on fees E-mail
Written by Rachael Finucane   
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
THE President of Mary Immaculate College called for an independent arbitration of university fees last week during his speech at the college’s largest graduation ceremony in its long and prestigious history.
Over the course of the two days a record number of 990 students from 23 of the 26 counties were conferred awards on from four undergraduate programmes, five graduate diploma programmes, 13 masters programmes as well as eight students who were conferred with the award of PhD.
This is regarded as a massive achievement for the college, which had a total student population of 298 in 1991 and now 17 years later, this has grown to 3173.
During his speech Professor Peadar Cremin talked at length about the serious challenges facing the education sector following not only last week’s budget announcements’ but also due to the ongoing cutbacks in the area for the past decade.
 He made reference to the recent report from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which pointed out that the proportion of GDP invested in education by OECD countries is on average 5.8%, whilst here in Ireland not only do we not reach that limit but in fact it has dropped from 5.2% in 1995 to 4.6% in 2005.
“It seems extraordinary that, in regard to fees, the Government is both the shopkeeper and the customer, the purchaser and the seller,” he said.
“I suggest that, regardless of who pays, it is time to introduce an independent system for reviewing and setting fees. All of the recent cutbacks in addition to a substantial decrease in expected fee increases will have dire consequences in terms of capacity of institutions such at third level to deliver quality programmes.”
He added that the recent education cutbacks are hitting the most vulnerable of our society; the disadvantaged, minority groups, special needs children and those already suffering financial hardship.
“As an institution committed to supporting Regeneration in Limerick and committed as per our Mission Statement to promoting equity in Irish society, I have to express my deep concern at the implications of the current educational cutbacks and in particular those elements which impact most on the disadvantaged”.
He also made reference to the implications these cutbacks would have on the 500 students graduating from Mary Immaculate as primary teachers.
He also congratulated all the students, their parents, family and friends who supported them through their past few years.
“We trust that you will contribute to keeping the torch of learning and of faith shinning brightly in the years ahead. We ask you to go forth and make a difference”.
 
 
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