Madam, – I marched with my fellow students because I wanted to remind Fianna Fáil that “I am a vote” and that during the next general election I will not forget how their handling of the economy has left me with the possibility of having to emigrate.
However, I agree with Ferdinand von Prondzynski’s recommendation that some form of student contribution should be introduced to help fund third-level education (Education Today, November 9th).
Going to university is a life-enhancing experience and one that should be open to all, regardless of where one lives. Prof von Prondzynski is correct that abolition of fees amounted to a huge redistribution of resources from the poor to the rich. This is because, before tuition fees were abolished, students in receipt of a maintenance grant didn’t have to pay them.
Surely increasing the percentage of school-leavers from areas like mine attending university is more important than protecting the upper and middle classes? Yours, etc,
A chara, – In highlighting the “wad of money” given by the tax-payer to those who can afford but are not required to pay third-level fees, Ferdinand von Prondzynski exposes the incompetence of successive ministers of education and their cabinet colleagues who have failed to provide the means for our higher education sector to attain world-class quality.
At the risk of incurring the wrath of Dermot Doody (November 2nd), I reiterate Muireann Lynch’s proposal (October 30th) that parents who choose to pay for second-level education should have no choice but to pay third-level fees for their children, as one solution to the problem. – Is mise,
Madam, – I find it puzzling that Andrew Abbott (November 5th) expects that the Union of Students in Ireland, or anyone else for that matter, should protest because non-EU citizens are obliged to pay full fees to attend colleges in Ireland.
Every year, Irish students fail to get into college because they do not achieve sufficient points. The points system exists precisely because there are not enough places for all those who wish to attend and has no direct bearing on the intellectual requirements of the chosen course.
Does Mr Abbott expect that an aspiring lawyer or doctor from Ireland should relinquish their place to some well-heeled non-national? I have no problem with anyone coming to Ireland to study, as long as it does not prevent one of my sons or daughters, nieces or nephews from getting a place. After all, I cannot afford to fund them if they have to go abroad to get a college place in Florida or somewhere further afield.
When everyone in Ireland who wants to study can get a place, then that is the time to see who else we can accommodate, providing they are paying the full fees. I have no desire to educate the world and his mother with my taxes. Lest I be considered a complete barbarian for that previous sentence, let me say that I am not uncaring of the plight of the world’s poor. But we’re not talking about the world’s poor here. – Yours, etc,