Students highlight concerns over education policy to minister

Deputy Michael Lowry recently received letters from Tipperary students Lisa O’Connor and Louis Ryan. Lisa attends the Ursuline School in Thurles, while Louis is a student at Rockwell College in Cashel.

Their letters highlighted educational disadvantages. Importantly, they also offered solutions.

Deputy Lowry said: "I was impressed that these bright young people were thinking of students who were not as privileged as themselves’. I made arrangements to have both students visit Leinster House. They made a wonderful presentation to Minister for Higher Education, Simon Harris, who, on hearing what these students had to say, committed to immediately exploring actions that would ease access to training for all professions, including medicine and law.

"While in the corridors of Government, they also attracted the listening ear of several other senior ministers, who listened closely to what these Tipperary students had to say."

When the students concluded their meetings, Deputy Lowry said: ‘Beyond doubt, both Lisa and Louis Lisa left a lasting impression on all those they spoke with’

Louis outlined to Minister Harris that he and Lisa were there to shine a spotlight on the inequalities of the Health Professions Admission Test, also known as the HPAT. He said that they represented those who haven’t been given an opportunity to speak out about their experiences, or even the prospect of imagining them.

Louis told the minister that, in a preferential world, the lamentable reality is that money always wins, or at least for the most part. He added ‘But you have the power to change that within our education system’

He added that, it is also fair to say that our Government’s actions, and hence their decisions will, without doubt, affect the student demographic.

Lisa told Minister Harris that the actions of the Government have serious consequences on us students, some of which benefit them, but many of which don’t. She added: "It is easy for yourself and your colleagues to make these decisions as you see fit, without taking into account the point of view of the students they are affecting and how profoundly they are affecting us."