Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Students becoming "disenfranchised" from taking up university courses - Murphy

Published: 27 August, 2009

Sinn Féin MP for Newry and Armagh, Conor Murphy has voiced his concern over the rise in the number of University students who are facing rising levels of debt

Conor Murphy also reiterated his party's position on the abolition of students fees

Mr Murphy said

"Students across Newry/Armagh have recently received their A Level results and are now making plans to go to university. I want to extend my congratulations to all those students - this includes those who received the results they had hoped for as well as those who did not. Completing exams is an achievement in itself and every student should be proud to have finished their courses.

"One of the major considerations for students in deciding which university to attend is in many occasions based on how much the course costs and what they and their family can afford.

"Many students are worried by the financial burden of going to university. The report published this week by the Push Students Debt Survey shows that many students could find themselves with a debt of over £20,000 at the end of their course.

"We cannot have a two tier education system where students from low income families are being disenfranchised from taking up university courses because they can't afford the course.

"Sinn Féin has campaigned against student fees for many years as we believe that education should be a right and not an optional extra depending on your financial situation. Over the past few years student fees have grown and universities are again becoming the preserve of the wealthy."