Students warn fees would lead to elitism

THE reintroduction of college fees will isolate even more people from education, the Union of Students of Ireland warned yesterday.

Reacting to the strongest indication yet that college fees are back on the Government agenda, USI president Colm Jordan said it was a myth that only the rich would be forced to pay.

“The reintroduction of fees would make third level education a luxury for half of society, by raising the cost per student to almost 50,000. It is a myth that only the rich will be forced to pay fees. There has been enough shameless spin-doctoring. What [Education Minister Noel Dempsey] needs to clarify is what he intends to do regarding fees.