Students protest lack of facilities at WIT site

STUDENTS took to the streets yesterday to highlight their frustration over lack of facilities at part of Waterford Institute of Technology.

Around one-fifth of the 1,500 students at WIT’s College Street campus took part in the march to the main campus.

WIT Student Union welfare officer Catherine Murphy said their complaints included a shortage of computer facilities, lack of seats in the campus library and not enough classrooms. The site campus is about 30 minutes walk from the main college and the base for around one quarter of WIT’s full-time students studying social care, nursing, art and design and legal studies.

Ms Murphy said: “Many students have endured these conditions all their academic life here and they’re understandably frustrated at the lack of work. There have been some improvements over the years but not enough to stop us from bringing students out in protest.

“They need proper computer facilities, more space in their library and more books there to help them do important projects and other work. Students are paying registration fees for these kinds of services but they are not there,” she said.

A spokesperson for the director’s office at WIT said it is difficult to ensure all balances are achieved in delivering higher education with a multi-campus model.

“We are working hard to make sure the entire suite of academic and other facilities is as well developed as possible. Through all of our work, we do recognise the needs of students and every endeavour will be made to offset deficiencies ,” he said.

The spokesperson said many developments have been completed including a new Information and Communications Technology site at the largest campus on the Cork Road.