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Ramsey: We cannot afford a lost generation of students

SDLP Employment and Learning Spokesperson Pat Ramsey has reacted to news that UCAS application numbers indicate a huge decrease in the number of students applying to courses in Britain, and has further called on the Minister for Employment and Learning to bring forward robust proposals to accommodate more students at local universities.

Tue 31st January

The Foyle MLA said:

“I made it clear to the Minister in recent months that measures would have to be put in place for what would be the inevitable reduction in local students going to study in Britain following the fees hike there.  It is only logical that our own local Universities must be equipped with the resources to cater for students who felt they could not afford to study away from home.  This must take the form of more student places within this Assembly term - otherwise we risk a generation of potential graduates being lost because of the Departments inability to act swiftly.

 

Local students applying to study in English Universities have suffered a massive 15.3% drop, with similar large reduction for Scottish and Welsh University applications.  Our local Universities suffered only a 1.5% drop in applications, but the key factor here must be that opportunities are given to those potential students who may now not go to University at all."

 

Pat Ramsey

Pat Ramsey MLA, Assembly

Email p.ramsey@sdlp.ie
Tel 028 7136 1444

Press Office

Tel 028 90 52 1837

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