Education and students the real losers as cost-cutting drives plans to merge ITs

As a merger between CIT and IT Tralee looms, the Government has attached conditions that poison the whole development and will impact on teaching, writes Tom O’Connor.

LECTURERS in institutes of technology nationwide are being balloted for industrial action, up to and including strike action this week. The continued availability of all educational courses in Cork Institute of Technology is at stake.

The likely deterioration of the nature and quality of education in the coming years due to merger costs and cutbacks is another serious concern. The future hiking of student fees to cover merger costs is also a very real danger. Potential job losses add further to the mix.