Consumer of an Education

The word 'consumption' refers to the use of final goods until disposal. Can we use this analogy to describe the Irish education system? Are we, the students, consumers of this service that is provided for us-a third level education?

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn believed it was a suitable analogy to avail of during his recent address at the University of Limerick. Minister Quinn visited the university as part of the Issues in Irish Media Seminar Series, organised by the BA Journalism and New Media course.

A debate followed both during the seminar and in class during the week as to whether students are indeed 'consumers' of a service in Ireland. A Sociology lecturer at the university argued that students are citizens, not consumers in a marketplace.

I believe we are consumers.

We are paying for an education-a service provided to educate us in our chosen fields. Minister Quinn explained that his analogy placed emphasis on the fact that students should be critical of their education and how it is delivered to them, quite like a consumer would be critical of the service they receive from a mechanic, doctor, electrician or caterer.

Minster Quinn said that he expects a response from the user, not necessarily a negative response, but one that could assist in improving and developing the service we receive. He said there should be a way to hold lecturers to account. He would leave the sanctions, if necessary, to the institution itself.

I agree that we are consumers of this service. You would expect to be receiving some sort of service paying €2000 a year for it, having been promised a free third-level education.

But why mention the "new idea" of making lecturers accountable for their actions? We can do this already.  

There are services in every university for people to use to either praise or complain about an educator in the institution. Why mention the possibility of creating a new layer of administration in the Department of Education for a service that is already provided to students? Does Minister Quinn believe more students would hold lecturers accountable if the word went straight to the central government as opposed to being able to deal with the problem first-hand at the institution?

The ability to hold lecturers accountable is there. If anyone wants to hold anyone accountable for their actions in a university context there is always a way.

We may be consumers Minister Quinn, and with that I agree, but with that comes the expectation to get the most for our money. We don't need the government's permission. If we wish to hold someone accountable, we can and we will.