Over three thousand students from NUI Galway, GMIT and Athlone IT took part in a demonstration in Galway City Centre earlier this afternoon.
The demonstration, which was part of a series of nationwide events coordinated by the Union of Students in Ireland, sought to highlight the issues of continuing cuts to the maintenance grant and threatened increases in the student contribution. Students dressed in black carried a symbolic coffin to mark the death of education. Following a rally in Eyre Square, students continued to the constituency office of Labour Party TD, Derek Nolan where an additional rally took place.
NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Paul Curley said:
“The thousands of students who came out today sent a clear message to the Minister for Education and Science that they can’t take any more increases in student charges, or cuts to the grant. Students are well aware that the country is experiencing a financial crisis, and they’re not looking for more than anybody else. It’s about investment. The recent failure of SUSI has highlighted what happens when funding is cut – students end up dropping out of college halfway through their course”
“Students will continue to make their voices heard, and today’s protest is just one step in the campaign.”
