“We’ve had students stay with us who’ve been kicked out of their houses by landlords who increased the rent, or they can’t afford to find a place to stay. It might be for a few days or a few weeks,” he says. “We share stories on social media like, ‘this guy needs help’ ... We’re a close community and we have a support network. We try to help each other.”While for many studying English here is a pathway to a better standard of living, some fall by the wayside.
So-called “Stamp 2″ students may stay in Ireland for an eight-month period if they enroll on a six-month English language course and have access to €3,000, or €500 per month. . “Students run out of money quickly due to delays getting PPS numbers, for example. This, and the limit on working hours, forces them into vulnerable and precarious work where they can be easily exploited.”
Laura Harmon, executive director of the Irish Council for International Students, which promotes the rights and welfare of learners from abroad, said it is easy to understand why many English language students are struggling. A qualified dentist, he arrived three months ago to study English. He is struck by the cost of accommodation and works three jobs to get by.
It meant working through the night from 9.30pm until 7am in Co Dublin before racing home and starting classes at 9am. “It was coffee, coffee, coffee all the time, just to stay awake,” he says. “I’m lucky with my rent, it is an old contract and is €350 a month. But others are paying €500 or more. Add in the tuition fees and working 20 hours or more, and it is not enough ... It might have been enough six or seven years ago, but now it’s not enough at all ... It’s crazy.”
The better schools, he says, tend to charge more, operate for longer and have teachers who are better educated, engaged and eager to help. The list was supposed to be a short-term measure when it was introduced in 2015 following the closure of more than a dozen language schools and questions over the quality of education in some settings.Most acknowledge that the department has little or no expertise in regulating education standards, which is why there are plans to give this role to Quality and Qualifications Ireland, a State body tasked with regulating quality in education, later this year.
Ah yes. They call this the 'means to an end' in that this is the struggle but better times will come with more education and better opportunities. Just like the Irish people themselves. Is it preferential treatment he seeks or? overseas students ARE the well off families.
These 'English language schools' are a migration big scam!
How many times did I see this post today
Go home then. Sounds like you have a choice. What is the point of this article? Homeless.. you came from somewhere. Get a refund from the course and go home. Who owes you anything here?
Stop committing crime all the time then. You are guests in our country, respect your hosts and know your place.
'The Irish dream'.
English Schools = Visa Factories. Stop pretending.
We don't have housing infrastructure for this sector to be propped up and it's unfair people are missold language courses while that's the case. We need to end all non EU language school visas with immediate effect and focus on other sectors.
It's really hard. Work part time study, how to pay rent working part time?
The 'English Language School' people-trafficking scam shoved right in our faces.
Maybe you should actually research a country before you go. Just a thought
Cead Mile Failte enjoy your €4 Latte. Is anyone prepared for the rising cost of living? No!
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