Rally to protest music school fees

UP to 1,000 people are expected to attend a rally in Waterford today to protest at what local parents describe as the “slow strangulation” of one of the country’s most successful music schools.

Despite agreement yesterday not to proceed with closure of the city’s School of Music, as had been threatened, the board of governors announced plans to place a moratorium on new entrants and introduce a 20% increase in tuition fees.

“Classes resume at the School on September 6 when pupils who registered with the school in the 2003-4 academic year will be able to continue their music studies,” it said in a statement.

“Because the school is in deficit, it will be necessary to increase fees by 20%.”

While welcoming the decision not to shut down the school, Waterford Music School Action Group chairperson Kevin O’Carroll said these measures would automatically result in a 30% falloff of students.

“If these proposals go on as they are, the central question is whether it’s a slow strangulation rather than an immediate closure of the school,” he said.

Around 10% of parents of the school’s 850 primary and secondary school students have indicated the difficulty they will have in paying higher fees, with current annual rates of €480 per student.

There is also a 20% natural turnover in numbers each year between students who go on to college and those who drop out of tuition.

“So between the moratorium and the price hike if you lose one-third of students that’s fairly serious,” Mr O’Carroll said.

The Action Group rally will take place in the People's Park today at 2pm with top local musicians adding their support to the protest.

“We will look at every option we can, but we do think there is still hope for a better way forward,” Mr O’Carroll said.

Meanwhile, the Teachers Union of Ireland said it would be studying the statement to see the likely impact the changes would have on its members.