FOREIGN STUDENT STAYED AWAY
Foreign students 'stayed away' at bombing
By Kathryn Torney and Noel McAdam
SOME students due to take part in exchange programmes with schools in Ulster dropped out in the wake of the Omagh bombing, it was revealed today.
However, education chiefs have stepped up efforts to attract foreign students to the province in a bid to beat the bombers.
The Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Northern Ireland found their foreign language assistants programme was the most badly affected, with 19 withdrawals after the bombing, including seven Spanish students.
Replacements were found for all but one.
Two students from Omagh College of Further and Higher Education were also given special permission for a one-way visit, because of the fears of students from Finland and the Netherlands to visit the province after the tragedy.
The bureau's deputy director Bernie McAllister said: "There has not just been bad publicity for Omagh abroad, it has been for Northern Ireland in general.
Adults have continued to come here, but they are afraid to send their children."
A Southern Board spokeswoman said a group of Spanish students ' who travelled over shortly after the bombing asked to visit Omagh to lay flowers.
The South Eastern Board has also set up an Internet 'chat' page with schools in Spain.
By Kathryn Torney and Noel McAdam
SOME students due to take part in exchange programmes with schools in Ulster dropped out in the wake of the Omagh bombing, it was revealed today.
However, education chiefs have stepped up efforts to attract foreign students to the province in a bid to beat the bombers.
The Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Northern Ireland found their foreign language assistants programme was the most badly affected, with 19 withdrawals after the bombing, including seven Spanish students.
Replacements were found for all but one.
Two students from Omagh College of Further and Higher Education were also given special permission for a one-way visit, because of the fears of students from Finland and the Netherlands to visit the province after the tragedy.
The bureau's deputy director Bernie McAllister said: "There has not just been bad publicity for Omagh abroad, it has been for Northern Ireland in general.
Adults have continued to come here, but they are afraid to send their children."
A Southern Board spokeswoman said a group of Spanish students ' who travelled over shortly after the bombing asked to visit Omagh to lay flowers.
The South Eastern Board has also set up an Internet 'chat' page with schools in Spain.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0564
Published Date: 26-Feb-99
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