College fees

[Orla K]

I know how students and incoming students feel about fees but, I'm just wondering about everybody else, are you in favour of the fees?

It's just been in the news today, this is from the Irish times

THE DEPARTMENT of Education has instructed third-level colleges to put new students on notice they may be liable for new fees from next year.
Students will be told of their potential liability for fees when they register for the first time next month.
Most third-level students already pay a registration charge of about €1,500.
In a letter circulated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the department, college presidents have been asked to inform all new students, as part of their induction, that third-level fees may be reintroduced in the 2010 academic year.
The department hopes this move will help to avert any legal challenge by students to a new fees regime.
Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe has said current third-level students would not be liable for any new loans or fees regime.
However, he insists the new fees or loan regime will apply to those beginning college next month.
The department has been advised that any legal challenge to the new fees regime is less likely to succeed if students are alerted to the possibility of increased charges at registration.
The legal view is that it is not possible to impose a new regime on existing students who had a reasonable expectation of proceeding through college without the burden of new charges.
Next month the Cabinet is expected to consider a 100-page option paper circulated to Ministers by Mr O’Keeffe.
While the Minister supports a new student-loan scheme, no option – including a return to “upfront” fees – has been ruled out until the Cabinet signs off on the issue.
Last night USI president Peter Mannion said it was “appalling that this Minister has pre-empted his colleagues’ feedback just weeks before they are due to submit their views on the reintroduction of third-level fees”.
In his letter, HEA chief executive Tom Boland tells college presidents how the Minister has circulated a review of available options to members of Cabinet in advance of possible future Government consideration of policy decisions on the issue.
“Incoming students in the 2009/2010 academic year should now be on notice that in the event of a Government decision to introduce a new form of student contribution from a future point in time, any such arrangements are liable to apply, from that time, to students who enter higher education this year.”
Mr Mannion said the letter suggests that the Minister has already made up his mind to reintroduce fees without hearing the views of Cabinet.
He said it was grotesque that thousands of students, as part of their induction to college, would be burdened with the anxiety that they could be facing crippling debt in the near future.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/...252952086.html

[MrStuffins]

This is ridiculous. I'm (hopefully) going into my 4th year this year and there was no way i could raise the €1500 needed for my fees because of how the labour market is. I couldnt get a summer job this year and my last hope is the grant, which they've turned me down for before!

Luckily it wont be me next year but my brother will be in college and there's no way he will be able to afford to go to college. And if he doesnt get a qualification he can't get a job....

[KINGVictor]

Quite unfortunate really,one would have expected the incoming students in september to be exempt from the fees next year,but the truth is that the Government has very little choice but to introduce fees.I just pray that the mess it all up like they have done with the HSE.

[Hagar]

Wrong forum, moved from AH to... College

[Orla K]

Originally Posted by Hagar

Wrong forum, moved to...

I put it in this forum to get peoples opinions who are not students so I would like it to stay in After hours.

[ChocolateSauce]

As a forth year student, I think fees should be introduced. Not upfront of course; they should be paid after you graduate and only when you have a job.

Even the most liberal estimates claim that fees will amount to no more than 40,000 euros. People with degrees usually earn at least 10,000 a year more than those who don't have them, so after four years you're making a profit. College isn't free, and we'll be paying for it sooner or later, either ourselves or for others through our taxes when we're older, and the current system is extremely wasteful. I'd say fewer than 40% of my original 1st year class is still here. Making people pay themselves will reduce waste, encourage better performance and will enable to colleges to provide a better education.

[Hagar]

Maybe a kindly EDU mod will bounce it back. I'll see if I can contact one.

[Dónal]

/sees batsignal.

Moved back to AH.

[spoofilyj]

I'm finished college two years now and did'nt have to pay fees. I could not have gone had there been fees but now have a job paying hugh tax back so in a way I'm helping the economy with my tax. If I had not gone I would no doubt be in a crap minimum wage job and not really contributing to the good of the country. So the government are once more proving to be the idiots we now know they are...

[brummytom]

We have them here (despite Labour promising they wouldn't introduce them )

Think they're a stupid idea, what a way to start your career.. with a heap of debt

[Mossy Monk]

Let them pay.

[ceannair06]

Bring them in - why should you get a free ride to do bloody Media Studies etc ?

Do Law, Med etc - then we'll box you off for free. You'll be helping the country.

Indulge your Tarantino fantasy and it should cost you.

[Cookie_Monster]

Since I'm out of college and supporting you free loaders with my taxes I voted to bring them back, I'm just that selfish!

[TheBandit]

I think you should only have to pay fees is you drop out or fail exams. If you drop out half way through a year(not applicable for extreme circumstances, death in the family etc) you should pay fees for that year. If you fail and exam and repeat you should have to pay x amount per exam to repeat(say 200-300e). This would get rid of the waster attitude but make college available to everyone. It would reward you for being a good student

[dlofnep]

Nope, introduction of fees creates a barrier and only allows those who can afford education to go. This creates inequality in society, which will see families who barely make the grade miss out on education opportunities because they can't afford to send their kids to college.

I think college should be available for everyone, to give everyone a shot at education. The said educated workforce will be contributing to the economy once they are out in the work-place, on high-earning jobs - which creates real wealth in the economy. To say that education is a complete drain on the economy is a fallacy.

Every family should be able to give their children a shot at third level education.