Oscar award winning Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE) are set to loose ten lecturers in the coming months. These job losses are a result to the introduction of the solas bill and recent education cute back across the post leaving certificate courses.
Christine Moynihan a lecturer in BCFE explained that
‘’some will be made unemployed; others will lose hours and see a huge reduction in their standard of living. Those left will see their working week extended again, teaching bigger class, with reduced facilities and reduced morale. ‘’
It’s not only the lecturers that are at a loss. As some of the courses that BCFE offer could possibly be cut. Moynihan explained that
‘’some courses would go from having 2 to just one class group’’
Thus resulting in students losing out on education chances.
In response to these cuts
‘’a group of concerned teachers from across the college with the backing of the whole college community’’
have set up a Save BCFE campaign that has been gathering momentum since its establishment.
The campaign is also trying to reverse the change to the student pupil ratio from 17:1 to 19:1. The campaign also hope
‘’To be allowed to start creating courses again at higher education 6 and above and for a change in rule to allow BCFE students to be allowed access a 3rd level grant’’.
As of today BCFE students undertaking the Degree credited by DCU are not entitled to 3rd level funding because the course is not been taking in a 3rd level institution.
The campaign holds a cult presence on social networking sites such as Facebook. A strong crowd of over 2,000 past and present staff and students and fighting to keep the excellent reputation of the college alive have been sharing their success stories and what BCFE means to them.
Trevor Halpin Editor in Chief of Music Review Unsigned explained that
‘’the great thing about the college is the one to one support from the lecturers; the students are equally supportive, both for feedback and any help if stuck on tricky assignments.’’
Many other students echoed what Halpin said such as Daniel Pitcher who now works with Dublin’s number one station FM104
‘’The practical aspects of the media courses and the support of the teaching staff is just part of the reason Ballyfermot has such a brilliant reputation.’’
Irish legend and ex BCFE rock school student Micky Joe Harte added
‘’It’s simply not easy to find proper words to define how BCFE has helped me grow as a musician and performer.’’
Jeanne Colwell an ex BCFE lecturer voice her concerns for fellow students and staff members
‘’ to lose the college as we know it would be tantamount to gross negligence on the part of the decision-makers.”
Jeanne also added discussed that people working in the industry would always favor employing BCFE graduates over other university graduates as BCFE students have been taught how to do the job properly and not just the theory behind it.
The BCFE campaign recently rallied outside the Dail in Dublin against the increased student to teacher ratio. Daniel Pitcher reported that a press conference was held by the save BCFE campaign
‘’at the press conference I heard from teachers, current students and past students, giving their view on the proposed cuts.’’
Pitcher also told us how one girl from Limerick who is studying media in BCFE spoke about hoe she is nearly finished her degree
‘’but at the same time expressed her concern about how cuts would affect her siblings chances and options when they are leaving school.’’
The protest gained a good turnout and received various media coverage across Ireland. These new cuts proposed by the minister of Education Rauri Quinn will have devastating effect on the number of school leavers as BCFE and various colleges of further education is their only chance of a college education. If course are dropped then there will be less places for school leavers and less of a chance of further education.
‘’The campaign is progressing on. We have attended many meetings with TD’s, Senators and Counsellors – it’s a case of making them aware of the issues and try and get them to see that these cuts and restrictions are bad for young people, bad for jobs and bad for the creative economy’’ added Christine Moynihan.
Journalism graduate seeking work. Irish and proud. All views are my own.
Save Ballyfermot College (BCFE) 
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