College students should have a greater say in planning the future of third-level education, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) demanded today.
Delegates at the USI Congress in Ennis, Co Clare, have called for the Government to adopt a number of polices to ensure that education in Ireland is fair and equal.
Outgoing USI Education Officer Heledd Fychan said: "From speaking to fellow students union officers it is clear that there is real concern among our members that future planning is being done with little regard for their concerns.
Outgoing USI Education Officer Heledd Fychan
"USI is advocating greater student involvement in the decision making process regarding any restructuring of the third-level sector, as well as individual colleges, to ensure that business and financial reasons do not become the sole driving force in this process."
Ms Fychan said that delegates will vote on the adoption of a campaign to promote greater transparency on the spending of the capitation fee, which she said was an example of fees by the back door.
"If students are forced to pay this charge they have a right to know where the money goes and also that a portion of it is ring-fenced to provide adequate student services in every college," she said.
A call for mass non-payment of the capitation fee is to be discussed by the student union this week. The abolition of fees, increasing of grants, the maintenance of state funding for all third-level colleges are also to be discussed at the Congress.
Other motions being debated include the adoption of a standard academic year, the centralisation of the grant payment system, and active opposition to the publishing of league tables.
The student union also elected its new officials at the Congress. Tony McDonnell (NUI Galway) takes over as USI President for the 2005/2006 term, with Ruth Ní Eidhin (Trinity College) as Deputy President/Campaigns Officer. The new Education Officer is Daithí Mac Sithigh (Trinity College), while Thomas Lowth (Trinity College) takes on the role of Welfare Officer. The new officials will take up their posts on July 1st. PA