NUS-USI MLA Lobby

NUS-USI student leaders meet with parties asking for support for their fees campaign

Students from colleges across Northern Ireland met at Stormont this week to lobby support from all political parties in Northern Ireland.

Recent figures have highlighted a shocking 16.7% drop in UCAS applications in Northern Ireland and a 50% drop in Students coming from RoI to study in Northern Ireland.

Students asked for support in the Admission Impossible campaign saying:-

• YES to a Free Education and Access for all
• YES to an independent review of the impact of top up fees in Northern Ireland
• NO to soaring levels of student debt
• NO to any attempt to lift the CAP
• NO to the marketisation of education

Colleen Dowdall, NUS-USI Convenor said,

“We are using this day as a way of getting the message out to the public and the government that the introduction of top up fees has had a major impact on students going to university here in Northern Ireland. This situation can only get worse and if the government removes the cap on fees it will discourage students from lower income families from taking up a third level education. We are asking the political parties for their full support for our Admission Impossible Campaign”

Topics discussed with UUP, Sinn Fein, SDLP and PUP MLAs included further education issues on mergers and strike action by lecturers; water & rates charges and their effect on students. All parties present agreed to support students on these very important issues.