Call for submissions on Drogheda’s further and higher education needs including apprenticeships
The Drogheda City Status Group (DCSG) has been invited to meet the Minister for Education Simon Harris to discuss the higher educational needs, including apprenticeships, in the South Louth and East Meath areas and is seeking input from interested parties.
DCSG want interested parties – including teachers; students and parents along with community and business interests to engage with the group to help develop a priority listing of key further and higher education needs with DIFE in a new locally based University Campus.
They are asking all interested parties to email their needs and ideas to droghedacitystatusnow@gmail.com ahead of DCSG engaging with the Minister in the weeks ahead, with the word “EDUCATION” in the “subject” box.
In particular, they need to hear what Third Level courses could or should be run from Drogheda; what Colleges and Universities can deliver these courses and how should they be delivered.
DCSG say that it is critical that, in the current review of third level education, the needs of, and opportunities for the Greater Drogheda Region must be fully considered for the emerging City of Drogheda and both its immediate and wider catchment.
“While Drogheda can boast of having DIFE – one of the finest Institutes of Further Education in the country, it lacks a Higher Education presence and needs a University Campus” spokesperson Anna McKenna said.
“”DIFE has been doing wonderful work in responding to many of the local needs for Further Education and has strong connections with DkIT. However, there are wider needs, especially in the area of Higher Education that need to be responded to.
“The Minister appears sympathetic to Drogheda’s position as Ireland’s largest town and emerging city – despite which, we have no local Higher Education campus.”
Ms McKenna pointed out that the population of Drogheda; South Louth and East Meath currently numbers around 80,000 and In the outer catchment, there are 750,000 people – a figure unequalled by most of Ireland’s largest urban centres, including most of the current cities.
“The current situation results in students from families on lower incomes being the denied the opportunity to secure a Third Level qualification” Ms McKenna said.
“For others, the cost of travel and accommodation to attend college places a heavy burden on family finances. A University Campus in the Greater Drogheda Region with good access to public transport would be an overdue first step to address this.”
She added “the recent Geiran Report highlights the need to invest in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship courses being delivered locally, and related to that, we are also calling for the new National Apprenticeship Office to be located here. This would be seen to be a tangible response to some of the more critical needs articulated in that report.”
Anna again urged all those interested to email their needs and ideas to droghedacitynow@gmail.com
“We look forward to meeting Minister Harris and learning what role he sees for the Greater Drogheda Region in delivering a wider range of education solutions for both the immediate and outer catchment in North Leinster.”
