Anger over decision to suspend digital media course at Mayo GMIT
THE Mayo GMIT Action Committee is disappointed by the news that the B.Sc (Hons) in Digital Media & Society is suspended for September 2019 at the Castlebar Campus.
A statement issued by the committee outlined: “The time has come now for students and staff to take action if this situation is to change.
“The decision by Galway to suspend this course is a decision to diminish the college. But even worse, the decision not to appoint a Head of Campus, nine months after the report of the Working Group, is an even greater sign that Galway intends to diminish the role of Mayo GMIT.
“Management in Galway have broken promises and the Working Group has not acted. If students and staff are willing to accept these actions, there will be no Mayo Campus within 10 years, as the uncertainty will drive students away.
“Galway management must now be put on notice that students and staff intend to bring the college to a total halt early in the new academic year. They will only take the Mayo Campus seriously, If student and staff join together in protest.
“The action committee did all it could in the previous campaign, organising street protest in Castlebar with the support of elected representatives, and stands ready now to assist if student and staff want to go down this road.
“This decision to suspend the digital media course,was announced in June because the media will not have any interest in this story during the summer months and of course staff and students are on holidays.
“I would advise that student leaders and staff representatives meet early in the new term to plan a day of action that must involve protest in the college.
“It is only when local and national media focus on such events, real student protest in action, students really engaged with the issue, that we will see real results and delivery from Galway management.
“Mayo GMIT and indeed Castlebar in general has been let down by broken promises for far too long.”
Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Brexit and TD for Mayo, Lisa Chambers, has also expressed her deep disappointment at the decision.
She stated: “It was a shock to hear of the suspension of the course as just last month, the Minster of State for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O'Connor reiterated the government’s commitment to the future sustainability of the Mayo Campus in Castlebar and now we learn of one of it's courses being suspended," she continued
"This is completely unacceptable and questions need to be answered as to why this decision was taken," she stated.
"I have sent in Parliamentary questions to both Minister O'Connor and the Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton asking them to outline why this decision was taken and if they will consider reversing the decision," she said.
"The staff and students, along with the people of Castlebar and the wider Mayo region have fought long and hard to secure the future of the Mayo Campus. They deserve to have answers as to why these types of decisions are being made and to be properly informed as to what plans are in place to secure the future of the campus."