Campaign for Free Education's reaction to governments plans

Friday May 30, 2003 12:22

by CFE - Campaign for Free Education

Below is a copy of the press release issued by CFE in reaction to the government decision to backdown on their plans to reintroduce fees.

The Campaign for Free Education has welcomed the announcement by the Government to invest 42 million in improving the grants system as evidence that direct action can work in fighting against the cutbacks agenda of the Fianna Fáil, PD government. The Campaign for Free Education has waged a year long campaign of direct action against the proposed reintroduction of fees and for equality of access to education.

CFE activist James Redmond said:
“The Campaign for Free Education took militant action over the last year in our battle against the reintroduction of fees. We organised occupations of government departments, sit ins and a blockade of the Dáil showing that there was strong opposition to the government’s cutbacks agenda in education. When Noel Dempsey visited UCD to open the Vet building he was blockaded for several hours by hundreds of students and CFE activists.
“The decision of the government to back down over fees and to invest 42 million of exchequer funds into improving the grants system is long overdue and shows that when ordinary people organise and take direct action, victories can be won. It is essential that people faced with cutbacks up and down the country draw the lesson that the time for waiting for politicians or union leaders to deliver is over. Its time to organise ourselves”

Finghin Kelly activist with CFE said:
“This is a key turning point in the battle against government cutbacks. We are calling on the government to immediately reverse their decision to cutback the Back to Education allowance. A significant number of mature students, lone parents and the long term unemployed will be unable to continue in their return to education if the BTEA cutbacks are not immediately reversed. We also call on the government to either reinstate the Student Summer Jobs Scheme or the right of students to claim unemployment assistance during the summer months. Thousands of students will find themselves without work this summer and ineligible for any state assistance whatsoever. The Campaign for Free Education will continue to fight for equality of access to education and for an education system that is genuinely free.”