Clampdown on rogue language schools

Damage done to Ireland’s international image by rogue language schools has forced a clampdown on the foreign student sector, ministers have revealed.

Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said tough action was needed as some poor quality colleges were not providing teaching, but merely access to the Irish labour market.

The move came after a wave of shutdowns of foreign language schools across the country which left students in distress.

The sudden closure of colleges in Dublin, Cork, and other areas impacted on more than 2,000 students after immigration authorities moved in.

“We cannot let our international reputation be damaged by low-quality provision or rogue operators. These reforms are crucial to ensuring that only those providers which can offer the highest standards can attract international students,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

The clampdown was ordered in conjunction with Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald amid fears that immigration rules were being abused to allow foreign students to work.

Tougher governance on how student visas are issued forms the centre-piece of the new regime, which comes into force in January of next year.

Regulation of the international language school sector will also be beefed-up with more emphasis on regular inspections, the ministers said.

And a much more restrictive range of educational programmes which international students can study will also be introduced in order to weed out the rogue operators.

Rules allowing those students from outside the European Economic Area to work are also to be tightened.

“The working year for the concession will be standardised to clamp down on abuse and to make the situation clearer for students and employers alike,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

Ms O’Sullivan stressed that many language schools provided high-quality education for students seeking to learn English in a sector of the economy, which is estimated to generate around €800m a year.

Ms O’Sullivan indicated that far fewer than the 230 schools currently allowed would be in operation when the new regime comes into force in the new year.

“Thousands of high-calibre students from around the world come to Ireland to study in our universities, institutes of technology, private colleges and English language schools. These students make a significant contribution to campuses and communities across the country,” Ms O’Sullivan said.

The Justice Department’s Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service arm struck a number of schools off the approved register amid fears attendance records were being altered to allow students to work.