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'Don't punish students over grant
delays' - TD
12.09.11
A LOCAL TD has urged
third level colleges not to make registration
difficult for students still awaiting maintenance
grant approval.
Deputy Charlie McConalogue said this was a difficult
time of year for families budgeting for the academic
year. |
"It’s particularly bad
for third level students this year after the
Government decided to increase registration fees
from €1,500 last year to €2,000 this year.
"I want to remind students who are registering for
their course in the coming days that their third
level institution has been required by the Higher
Education Authority (HEA) not to block the
registration of those awaiting confirmation of
approval for maintenance grants or to require them
to pay the fee up front while they are waiting on
their grant to be processed." |
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Deputy Charlie McConalogue |
The Gleneely-based TD
added: "I am aware that last year, many third level
institutions put pressure on students whose grant
applications were delayed to pay registration fees
up front or else deferred their full registration
until such time as they could produce evidence
letters of approval.
"Up to half of all students who applied for a
maintenance grant this year are still waiting for
their applications to be processed. But the HEA has
directed all third level institutions to facilitate
such students and not to delay the registration of
those who inform them that they have not yet
received their grant approval." He urged any student
who finds they are not being allowed to register to
contact the HEA. |
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