State tries to aid stranded English-language students

Efforts are being made by government departments to help students affected by the closure of a number private international colleges in Dublin.

The Department of Education and the Department of Justice are in contact with some of the hundreds of students affected after the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service suspended some colleges from its register of approved course providers for alleged breaches of immigration conditions.

Because international students require their college to be on this register, it can affect their visa or residency status, and many have complained of being left out of pocket for thousands of euro paid in fees.

Among those to have closed in the past month was Eden College on Dublin’s Burgh Quay, where former education minister Batt O’Keeffe was president until earlier this year. RTÉ News reported that Mr O’Keeffe said students were receiving excellent tuition, and that he was astounded at claims of irregularities at the college.

Education Minister Ruairí Quinn said he had no sympathy for somebody who tries to get into the labour market here by pretending to be at school when they are actually working.

“But I am concerned about people who have, through no fault of their own, signed up for a course which turns out to be a bum course,” said Mr Quinn.

His department said it is helping the Department of Justice and Quality and Qualifications Ireland to engage with students who have been affected.

The Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) said key immigration questions had been largely resolved at a recent meeting between INIS and student representatives.

ICOS says its the main priority now is the students’ educational future and that a task force is needed to take charge and help get those affected get back into classes, perhaps at a “pop-up” college that might be set up to help deal with the situation.

Marketing English in Ireland, an umbrella body for 54 English-language schools with accreditation recognised by the Department of Education, said the sector needs to be better regulated to help reverse the reputational damage caused by the recent development.