Young Fine Gael Join Student Protests Over On-line Teacher Training Course

dublin | miscellaneous | press release Wednesday November 05, 2003 14:02 by Campaigns Director - YFG

Young Fine Gael are today joining in protests by trainee-teachers over the controversial state approval for the new Hibernia College on-line teaching course.

Speaking at the protest march at St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Young Fine Gael spokesperson William Lavelle stated: "Young Fine Gael supports today's protests because we are not satisfied that an 18 month part-time on-line course will meet current and future training requirements, and produce the best possible teachers.

"On-line education is a great step forward so we sincerely hope that the government's sloppy involvement in the controversy regarding Hibernia College will not cast a shadow over the future development of on-line education in Ireland

" Young Fine Gael is therefore calling on the Minister for Education to ensure that the Hibernia Scheme and any other future on-line educational courses are to the same standard as similar courses offered in traditional colleges.

"In the mean-time we believe that the Minister must invest in more providing more places in the traditional training colleges such as St. Pats and Froebel.

Ends.../