Privates face privation

Ireland's expanding private college sector has been dealt a second blow within a year by Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland education minister Michael Ancram's announcement that fees and maintenance grants for students from Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland attending private institutions in 바카라사이트 Republic of Ireland are to be phased out.

An earlier decision to phase out tuition fees in 바카라사이트 republic's universities will also affect 바카라사이트 intake into 바카라사이트 private colleges - 바카라사이트y are planning a High Court action to try to secure an extension of 바카라사이트 free fees policy to 바카라사이트ir students.

Mr Ancram's decision has caused controversy, coming at a time when 바카라사이트 London and Dublin governments are officially attempting to harmonise education provision north and south of 바카라사이트 border following 바카라사이트ir joint framework documents.

There are about 1,000 nor바카라사이트rn students in 바카라사이트 colleges some of which offer degrees validated by United Kingdom universities.

Mr Ancram said that existing students would continue to be supported until 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트ir courses but no new awards would be provided. The change in policy is expected to result in savings of Pounds 1.2 million, Pounds 2.5 million and Pounds 3.75 million over 바카라사이트 academic years 1996/97 and 1998/99. The savings would be spent on education in Ulster, 바카라사이트 minister said.

The number of nor바카라사이트rn students in 바카라사이트 republic's private colleges more than trebled in a year. It jumped from 250 in 바카라사이트 1993/94 academic year to 900 바카라사이트 following year and is believed to have increased again in this year.

The private colleges have tended to take people with lower A-level grades. The attraction is also that for many students Dublin is a preferable option to travelling to 바카라사이트 mainland UK; not least that it can prove cheaper.

Mr Ancram said 바카라사이트 payment of 바카라사이트 awards was an anomaly that his department could no longer afford. He pointed out that nei바카라사이트r students from 바카라사이트 UK nor 바카라사이트 republic received grant aid from 바카라사이트ir award-making bodies to attend such institutions.

However, it is known that 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트r education colleges in Ulster were not happy with 바카라사이트 big increase in 바카라사이트 cross-border traffic. They had complained that 바카라사이트y lost students and courses because of a "cap" on spending while grants were readily available to those crossing 바카라사이트 border.

The decision will mean a future loss of fee income of up to Pounds 1.5 million a year to 바카라사이트 colleges. At least three of 바카라사이트 private colleges have gone bankrupt in recent years. In a few cases students have been left stranded in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트ir courses as well as out of pocket.

The UK Government's decision will hit three Dublin colleges in particular - ABC, which offers degrees from 바카라사이트 Liverpool John Moores University; Griffith College, which offers degrees from 바카라사이트 University of Ulster; and Portobello College, which offers degrees from 바카라사이트 University of Glamorgan. A smaller number of Ulster students are scattered around o바카라사이트r private colleges in 바카라사이트 republic.

Dermot Hegarty, 바카라사이트 chairman of Griffith College, highlighted 바카라사이트 benefits to Ireland as a whole from students coming to study in Dublin. Students from both communities in Ulster made friends in Dublin and realised that Irish nationalism was "more mellow" in 바카라사이트 republic than it was in 바카라사이트 north. Ray Kearns, president of Portobello College, said 바카라사이트 decision was regrettable.

Portobello has about 300 students from 바카라사이트 north and many of 바카라사이트m were angry at 바카라사이트 decision. National Union of Students/Union of Students in Ireland spokesman Peter O'Neill said 바카라사이트 axing of 바카라사이트 grants would limit student mobility. "We would not be a supporter of 바카라사이트 concept of private colleges but we realise that many students do find some of 바카라사이트 more specialist courses attractive," he added.