ISSU's 'Tools for Inclusive Schools' event
Next week, on the 16th of November, we will be hosting our International Students Day event. The event is called 'ISSU's Tools for Inclusive Schools' and will focus on the integration of migrant and refugee students in second level schools in Ireland. The day will feature a number of inspiring guest speakers and exciting workshops, and we will even make our own 'Student's Charter for Inclusive Schools' . Travel costs will be reimbursed and lunch will be provided - so you have no excuse not to go!
ISSU Annual Assembly 2017
Represent your student council at the Irish Second-Level Students' Union Annual Assembly 2017!
The largest statutory meeting in the ISSU calendar will include national elections to our Student Executive Board, union policy, constitutional amendments, and annual reports.There'll also be a forum for debate and discussion around student councils in and student rights in Ireland, as well as student representation and political influence.
Register here: https://form.jotform.com/70442876018963
Meet Our Officers: Cárthach Ó Faoláin, Deputy President
My name is Cárthach Ó Faoláin and I currently hold the position ofDeputy President in the Union. I come from the Rinn Ó gCuanachGaeltacht village in Co. Waterford where I attended both primary andsecondary schools; Scoil Náisiúnta na Rinne and Meánscoil San Nioclás.I recently moved to Cork City to study Law & Irish in UniversityCollege Cork.Previous to being elected last Spring, I had been active and remain tobe active in the Youth Empowerment/Youth Work scene locally andnationally. From the beginning of my secondary education I was amember of 'Waterford County (later a joint Waterford group) Comhairlena nÓg' where I sat on the National Executive (alongside our PresidentJane as it happens, who represented Cork County). Following my termending in Comhairle na nÓg I was invited to join the working group,the National Implementation team for Structured Dialogue in Ireland-'Young Voices' by a former Nat. Exec. facilitator. Here we work onimplementing EU youth policy in Ireland.Young Voices provided me with many opportunities to gain experienceand represent young people, such as speaking at many events aroundIreland, and most excitingly, I was selected to be one of three IrishYouth Delegates at the 2016 EU Youth Conference in Amsterdam,Netherlands last April, and will represent Irish young people again inKosice in Slovakia in October.Educational interests include Culture, Language, Education Reform andHealthy lifestyle and I hope to work on these themes during my term asDeputy President.
Meet Our Officers: Rob O'Donnell, Honorary President
Hi my name is Rob O'Donnell.I'm a second year Engineering with Management Student in Trinity College Dublin. I was also a student of the Abbey School, Tipperary. I'm from County Limerick originally. I was elected in 6th year and is on his second year of his term. I also previously held the roles of International Officer and Secretary, and now sit as the Honorary President with the Irish Second-Level Students' Union.
Meet Our Officers: Jane Hayes Nally, President
My name is Jane M Hayes-Nally, and I am a fifth year student from Loughaderra in County Cork. I was elected president of the Irish Second-Level Student Union last April, after my term as Education Officer during 2015/16. My love and motivation towards the Union has grown with every day I serve on the National Student Executive. I believe that with every student who discovers the work and aims of the union, the closer we become to realising our voices as students and advocating the changes that Irish students want.As president, you are given much responsibility and therefore much is expected from you. I try to motivate the people who I work with and the students I meet, in the hope that they will share my determination and passion for our cause. There are many things I look forward to working on this term, from student events to our Board of Management project, and I am delighted to be working alongside the most fantastic people. I hope by the end of the year, I will be proud of the work we have achieved.
Check out Jane's speech from the #EducationIs demo.
A cháirde,My name is Jane Hayes Nally.I am a 17 Year old student in St Mary's High School. I am in 5th year at the minute and I am also the president of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union. We represent the second-level students in Ireland and we believe in an education system without barriers. I want to study science when I finish school. I want to go to college and I want to make my contribution to the social, cultural and economic growth of the Irish society. I want a future. I want the chance to stay in Ireland and to study in Ireland. I, and many of my fellow students are marching on this day because we need to be heard. We are telling this country that we need publicly funded education in order for us to have this opportunity. We need publicly funded education so that we get a chance to study, to better ourselves and to become qualified. But we are not alone however and we are not just students marching here today. We are among our parents, our teachers and our future lecturers. We are with members of national unions, organisations and charities. We are among people that believe in the same right to education as we do. Education Is: A human right and education is my right.Education Is: My opportunity to create, to succeed, to achieve.Education is the essential exchange of information from teacher to classroom, lecturer to laboratory, author to readership, and speaker to the world.Education Is the remembrance of history to prevent its disasters repeating itself. It's is the comprehension of science in order to react with our environment peacefully, and to further discover our universe.Education Is the art of the world’s languages, the successful communication between two people, and the appreciation of the way words can change the world.Education Is the promotion of mathematics and logic, the engine behind advancements in technology and computers, and the reason why we are edging closer to a world where 6.8 billion people could all be connected online.Education Is debate, discussion, dispute. It is an opportunity to open one’s mind, to consider ideas you could not have imagined.There is no justification for a scheme which will limit the access of Irish people to education. There is no justification for burdening our students with debts when we are in a position to fund these opportunities, just like the Cassells report deemed viable. Let us not make education exclusive to the students who can afford to fund it privately, and forcing those who must take out loans to pay more for education, | as will happen when loan payments and interest are combined. Let us not deplete the number of mature and part-time students who study in our colleges, as has been experienced in Australia and the UK. Let us open education up to all, make it equal, inclusive, and accessible.And Today we're saying: Listen US!And listen loud and clear, because we’re saying No to student debt.No to an unsustainable loan scheme.We are saying No to an unequal education system.We are saying No to limiting access to education.We are saying NO to denying me MY future! To depriving me of the opportunity to enter third level education. ME and many of my fellow students.It comes down to a choice.We have a choice in what kind of Ireland will exist in the future.By improving Irish education today, we can improve the Ireland of tomorrow.End.