Trainee Teachers Could Be Charged As Much As €650 To Go To “Virtual Gaeltacht”

Trainee primary school teachers are up in arms after it was revealed that they would be charged €650 to attend a fortnight "virtual Gaeltacht" as part of their course.

All teachers have to do a period in an immersive Irish environment as part of their course, and it usually costs €750 - though in normal times, obviously, that involves travel, room and board and an in-person immersion in the Gaeltacht.

Now, students have contacted the Department of Education to protest that they still being forced to pay despite the immersion part of their course taking place online.

via GIPHY

"This charge is not justifiable as we will be learning from home and not getting the usual experience of going to a Gaeltacht region and speaking with locals," said Clara McDonald, a representative for trainee teachers at Hibernia College, a private teacher training college.

"Some of the students at Hibernia have young families and can't afford this. We will have to use our own wifi and will be in our own homes so I don't understand the €650 charge when we won't be getting the same experience."

Those who attend state-funded teacher training colleges can get a grant to cover the cost of the course, but this is not available to those in private institutions.

Hibernia College founder and president Dr Sean Rowland said that the college had also lobbied the government to have the fee waived or covered by grant.

"In early January, it was brought to our attention that the proposed fee for the two-week online programme would be in the region of €650 and that all students from State colleges would receive a re-instated student grant to cover this cost," he said.

"We were acutely aware that this fee would cause huge stress and anxiety for many students and their families and we have consistently lobbied the Department of Education since last November asking for consideration for the grant for our students."

"As an online provider with 20 years' experience in delivering courses online, we were anticipating a much lower fee for online course provision. We find it most unusual that the Department of Education and Comhchoiste Náisiúnta na gColáistí Samhraidh (CONCOS) agreed to an average price being set across the Gaeltacht providers, which is binding on our students."

Over 6,000 people have already signed the petition - and if you want to join them by signing it too, you can do so by clicking right here.

Topics: Ireland

Mike Wood

Mike Meehall Wood is a freelance journalist and translator. He writes for LADbible, VICE and countless sports publications, focusing on rugby league, football and boxing. He is a graduate of Leeds University and maintains a fizzy pop obsession. Contact Mike at [email protected]