12 Oct 2016, 17:21
12 October 2016
The Joint Committee on Education and Skills will convene tomorrow to consider a number of important issues. The Committee will consider motions in the names of Deputies Thomas Byrne and Catherine Martin, and amended motions in the name of Deputy Jim Daly, regarding the 10% loss of marks in the Junior Certificate English Examination for students in ASTI staffed schools.
The Committee will then meet with representatives of the ‘Wake Up SUSI’ campaign to discuss the non-payment of maintenance grants to students attending private third-level colleges. Lastly, the Committee will engage with Mr. Michael Horgan, Chairperson Designate of the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
The meeting will commence at 9.00am in Committee Room 1 tomorrow, Thursday, 13 October 2016.
Committee Chairperson, Fiona O’Loughlin TD, said “Tomorrow’s meeting will allow us to address a number of important and topical issues. The motions, and amended motions, will allow for a thorough discussion on the current situation where Junior Certificate English Exam Students in ASTI staffed schools, face the prospect of losing 10% of their marks.”
“The ‘Wake Up SUSI’ campaign highlights issues being faced by students, who are attending private third-level colleges, around accessing grant aid. Currently, students who have chosen to study in a private college are not eligible for maintenance grants. As a Committee we now welcome this opportunity to meet with this group to discuss their concerns.”
“We will then have the opportunity to engage with Mr Horgan and hear of his plans for the future of the HEA. Following the discussion tomorrow, the Committee will convey to the Minister for Education and Skills whether or not it agrees that Mr. Horgan should be appointed as Chairperson of the Higher Education Authority.”
The Committee will also engage in Scrutiny of EU legislative proposals: Schedule A: COM(2016)532; COM(2016)381; COM(2016)382; COM(2016)383 Schedule B: COM(2016)490; COM(2016)554
Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Ends