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Statement by the Department of Justice and Equality on reform of

the English Language sector


th
12
May, 2015

The recent closure of a number of private English language colleges has again highlighted the wholly
unacceptable manner in which part of our international education industry has been operating. It is
self-evident that for some of the businesses in this sector, the primary service on sale is the
facilitation of immigration and educational courses are a means of delivering that. Many of the
students and teachers unfortunately become innocent victims of these disreputable enterprises.
Whilst there are many genuine language schools operating entirely legitimately, the efforts of these
schools and of the State in promoting and regulating a valuable sector of the economy is being
severely undermined by a small number of rogue operators. These operators have shown scant regard
for immigration rules and no regard for the welfare of genuine students.
The first concern for genuine students is to reassure them about their immigration status. All existing
immigration permissions of students in recently closed colleges will be honoured in full and the
students will be entitled to work in accordance with the rules for student migration. In remains the
case that there are many good and reputable schools that can provide a quality course and some are
offering special deals for those displaced in the closures.
Ultimately the only solution to sorting out the problems in the language sector is an extensive reform
programme. Reforms announced jointly by the Department of Justice and Equality and the
Department of Education and Science, who are working closely together, in September 2014 were
delayed by a High Court ruling in January 2015. Taking account of the High Court ruling, amendments
to the reforms have now been finalised and will be brought to Government by Minister Fitzgerald and
Minister OSullivan for approval very shortly. In addition to the reforms outlined last September,


further measures are being proposed to increase the protection for students and strengthen
governance of the industry.
The unequivocal message is that there is no place for unscrupulous operators who have no regard for
immigration rules or their students. Reform of the sector will be to the benefit of genuine students and
teachers who deserve better and the majority of providers who have built up legitimate professional
businesses over the years based on the quality of the services they provide.
Genuine students and teachers can and must play an important role in cleaning up the industry. They
are on the ground and well placed to provide on a confidential basis early warning of bad practice,
misrepresentation, financial difficulty and risks to student welfare.
Prospective students are strongly advised to carefully consider the college at which they are seeking to
enrol. Students should fully satisfy themselves of the Protection for Learner arrangements in place at
the college and should seek details of those arrangements in writing.

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