Call for action to ease plight of displaced students

Student representatives say Government plans to enforce standards in English language schools will not be enough to ease the plight of hundreds of overseas students affected by recent college closures.

The concerns were raised by Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) as a Government-led task force was announced to assess the situation after five private schools have closed since mid-April, and the case of a number of others where students face uncertainty since their colleges were removed from an international register used by immigration authorities in reference to student visas.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the group meeting for the first time tomorrow will be co-chaired by his department and the Department of Justice. He and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald expect an initial report by the end of next week on the affected numbers and the level of alternative classes that will need to be provided.