So if you didn't know this already, I was born in Brazil and moved to Ireland during primary school around 11 years ago.
Although I have completed primary school here in Ireland and am now in the process of completing secondary school, I have no rights to attend third level education, under the free fee scheme or apply for any grants. This being all because I was born outside of the EU.
Is it fair that, I'm working my but off to do well on my leaving certificate, but don't have the rights to attend college under the 'Free Fees Scheme'?
Allow me to welcome you to my reality. One of my course choices in the CAO is midwifery. I'm going to use this course as an example, to show you what the reality is of tuition fees for non-EU students.
These are the tuition fees alone, upon these cost, there is the addition of €2,000 of registration fee, ~€150 of student levy and living cost such as photocopying, internet, commuting etc which according to the UCC website is ~€400.
The average tuition fee is €16,775. That means that the average total fees of going to college for one year alone is €19,325.
I don't know about you, but that is a shit load of money. Then you have to take into account that most courses are 4 years long. Which brings the total cost of going to college to whopping €77,300. How on earth can an average person afford that? Unless you shit out dollar bills for breakfast, I don't think any average person can afford such a cost.
Do you know how your tuition fee is payed, if your an EU member of Irish citizen?
No? Okay, I'll tell you.I't's payed by the government.
But where does the government get the money for that you ask?
Through direct taxation. That's tax on your wages.
So that means that the entire working force of this country are equally paying for your education. And guess what? Believe it or not, migrant workers also get taxed.
That means that my dad working two different jobs, for minimum wages, paying tax weekly, is paying for you to go to college. While I might have to migrate for third level education, because of this barrier 'Free Fee Scheme'.
Is this fair?
I honestly don't think it. Migrant workers make up approximately one third of the Ireland's labour force. So why is it that their children don't have the right to attend third level, under the free fee scheme, although they have completed primary and secondary school here.
The Labour Party have added a motion on their website, called 'Motion 36', following their conference.
The motion is under Session 2 : Opportunities for All Through Education. Click here to go to the poll.
Please take 2 minutes to vote on the poll and have your opinion heard, please vote 'IN FAVOUR' and give me the opportunity to explore my capabilities. I want to go university. Are you going to stand in my way or help me get there?
Although I have completed primary school here in Ireland and am now in the process of completing secondary school, I have no rights to attend third level education, under the free fee scheme or apply for any grants. This being all because I was born outside of the EU.
Is it fair that, I'm working my but off to do well on my leaving certificate, but don't have the rights to attend college under the 'Free Fees Scheme'?
Allow me to welcome you to my reality. One of my course choices in the CAO is midwifery. I'm going to use this course as an example, to show you what the reality is of tuition fees for non-EU students.
| University | Course | Tuition Fee/Year € |
| UL | Midwifery | € 15,400 |
NUIG
|
Midwifery | € 13,700 |
| UCC | Midwifery | €18,000 |
| UCD | Midwifery | €20,000 |
These are the tuition fees alone, upon these cost, there is the addition of €2,000 of registration fee, ~€150 of student levy and living cost such as photocopying, internet, commuting etc which according to the UCC website is ~€400.
The average tuition fee is €16,775. That means that the average total fees of going to college for one year alone is €19,325.
I don't know about you, but that is a shit load of money. Then you have to take into account that most courses are 4 years long. Which brings the total cost of going to college to whopping €77,300. How on earth can an average person afford that? Unless you shit out dollar bills for breakfast, I don't think any average person can afford such a cost.
Do you know how your tuition fee is payed, if your an EU member of Irish citizen?
No? Okay, I'll tell you.I't's payed by the government.
But where does the government get the money for that you ask?
Through direct taxation. That's tax on your wages.
So that means that the entire working force of this country are equally paying for your education. And guess what? Believe it or not, migrant workers also get taxed.
That means that my dad working two different jobs, for minimum wages, paying tax weekly, is paying for you to go to college. While I might have to migrate for third level education, because of this barrier 'Free Fee Scheme'.
Is this fair?
I honestly don't think it. Migrant workers make up approximately one third of the Ireland's labour force. So why is it that their children don't have the right to attend third level, under the free fee scheme, although they have completed primary and secondary school here.
The Labour Party have added a motion on their website, called 'Motion 36', following their conference.
The motion is under Session 2 : Opportunities for All Through Education. Click here to go to the poll.
Please take 2 minutes to vote on the poll and have your opinion heard, please vote 'IN FAVOUR' and give me the opportunity to explore my capabilities. I want to go university. Are you going to stand in my way or help me get there?
Jessy you made me so proud of being your mum! I'm so sorry that, in believing that I was doing what was best for you and your siblings, I've put you all through this legalized ''discrimination''. But I do hope that we will make a positive change not just for us but for all generations to come! May God bless you and may He open all doors, as no one is greater then our Lord God!!!!
ReplyDeleteJess. Tried to post already but it vanished. Really proud of you honey. I'm now one of the 95.2% who voted in favour of you getting your education that you so rightly deserve. I as a national citizen apologise for this money grabbing country's attitude towards non nationals. They just seem to be piling on the bills and taxes too to us and we're supposed to take it lying down. We take the education for granted here tho and only for people like you, we wouldn't know a thing about how ill treated you are. Like you said your dad pays taxes just like the rest of us. The system is so unjust. I hope and pray that change comes quickly for you and others like you. I want to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the leaving cert. I know you'll do wonderfully well and you get the course that you deserve whether it's here or abroad. Would hate to see you leaving but you've got to put yourself first. I lost my son because of The state of things here. I hope we don't lose you too. Love Shar.x
ReplyDelete@cida, you did what you thought best at the time, how were you to foresee this one decade ago?
ReplyDelete@sharon, Thank you so much for your kind words, they truly mean the world to me. :)
Don't worry Sharon you haven't seen the back of me yet. I've got quite some fight in me. I will always stand up for justice.