Minister ‘sympathetic’ to Anna’s €25,000 fees plight
Anna Kern, aged 18, a Ukranian national, attained 575 points in her exam, the highest result at Coláiste Nano Nagle, Sexton Street, despite arriving here only two years ago with no English.
As she is a member of a family seeking asylum and living in direct provision she faced annual fees of €25,000 to realise her ambition of studying physiotherapy at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.
Her plight was highlighted by school principal, Marion Cummins and as a result the minister directly intervened.
Anna said yesterday: “The minister contacted me by phone on Thursday and she told me to accept the CAO offer, which I hope to get from the college next Monday and that she (the minister) will find a way with the college to get me there. I am very happy and excited.”
School principal, Marion Cummins said things now look promising for Anna.
“We will find out what will happen on Monday as there are practical issues to be sorted. Anna has been told accept the CAO offer which comes out on Monday.Minister O’Sullivan has been very impressed by Anna and said she will do what she can.Anna’s case has taken a positive direction.
School principal asks minister to make exception for talented asylum seeker student http://t.co/rbpW6Snmlo pic.twitter.com/dJlkrcWaXC
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) August 14, 2015
“I had been planning a course of action regarding Anna prior to the results coming out as I anticipated she would do exceptionally well and she would then face a problem of getting to third level, due to the fees issue,” she said.
“I felt there would be a grave injustice. I contacted one (politician) not the Minister, but that politician did nothing about it, and I was very disappointed in the response from that politician. However, the minister on learning of the situation dealt with it with diligence and sympathy. I have great respect for her.”
Anna moved to Ireland two years ago with her mother Lyndmyla; sister Olga; and brother Andriy, 14. They live in the direct provision centre at Knockalisheen, outside Limerick.
A un-named former politician has offered Anna free accommodation in Dublin during her studies.
The Department of Education said the minister believes Anna is a very talented, determined student and she will endeavour to assist her in continuing her studies in Ireland.
“Anna does not have access to State-funded support but in recent years a number of students in Anna’s position have found routes to third level, often with the assistance of an individual institution, or the support of a philanthropic organisation and the minister will offer whatever assistance she can in that regard,” a spokesperson said.
