Sir, - The recent warning by the UK Universities and Colleges Admissions Service that those entering college in Britain and Northern Ireland in 1997 will, most likely have to pay fees is of interest for two main reasons.
Firstly, it may result in a higher demand for places in Irish third level institutions since fees will no longer have to be paid by full time undergraduates here. This will mean increased pressure on already stressed college resources and increased levels of stress on second level students already under plenty of pressure.
Secondly, it proves one of the strongest arguments that was made against the introduction of "free fees" here - the dangers of colleges being almost totally dependent on the State for their income.
In the period 1989-94, funding for UK universities rose by 23 per cent ahead of inflation, yet in the same period, the numbers attending those institutions increased by, over 45 per cent.
In Chancellor Kenneth Clarke's budget of last November, however, he announced a cut of seven per cent in the government grant to UK colleges - and proposed a further 12 per cent cut over the next three years. This prompted the committee of vice chancellors and principals in the UK to propose are introducing fees to make up the shortfall. In the meantime, the quality of third level education in Britain and the North has suffered enormously.
Already, Irish third level institutions are hiking up fees for those who must continue to pay (part time, evening and postgraduate students). Some UCD postgraduate fees, for example, were increased last year by 43 per cent and in many cases, rises exceeding 20 per cent were common. Irish colleges are also biting into the income earning services of student groups, particularly students unions. All in an effort to balance the books to maintain high standards in third level education.
If third level education is not a priority for future (or indeed, present) Irish governments in terms of investment and realisation of its potential, then the quality of that education will decline and the only way for colleges here to arrest that decline may be to, follow their counterparts in Britain and the North. - Yours, etc.,
Ramsfort Avenue
Gorey