Cuts at third level may hurt revival in economy - TUI

STAFFING AND funding cutbacks across third level are now threatening the effort to build a “smart economy”, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) warned yesterday.

The union – whose annual conference begins in Ennis, Co Clare, today – said inadequate resourcing in the sector could undermine economic revival.

TUI represents 3,500 lecturers in institutes of technology.

John MacGabhann, assistant general secretary, said staff numbers across higher education were being cut back, despite the record demand for college places.

He said further staffing reductions could lead to a cessation of certain modules and a severe diminution of services to students.

Latest projections indicate that numbers at third level are set to double over the next 20 years to 290,000 students by 2030.

Mr MacGabhann said the third-level system “is woefully ill-equipped to deal with these increasing demands. A clear strategy for the future is needed if the international standing of our third-level institutions is to be preserved.”

The TUI says the cutbacks have damaged student services, including:

Less contact time for students with lecturers;

Cutbacks in tutorials, with severe cuts in the thinking and problem-solving elements of studies;

Widespread cuts in access programmes due to cuts in funding and the embargo on appointment to support staff positions;

A dramatic decrease in laboratory, practical and workshop activities. The union said: “Class sizes have increased for such activities – dangerously so in some cases. Laboratory work, which should be at the heart of the science discipline, has been whittled away as a result of various swingeing cuts.’’

Mr MacGabhann said disadvantaged students require additional support throughout their college time, but as a result of the moratorium on filling vacant positions they were suffering and may be forced to drop out.

The TUI said the cuts were impairing the ability of colleges to provide the type and quality of courses required under the Labour Market Activation Scheme for the recently unemployed.