O’Keeffe hints students could pay college fees after graduation

COLLEGE students are likely to be expected to pay back the costs of their third-level education after graduating rather than their families paying fees up front, Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe indicated yesterday.

However, school-leavers may have to wait until after this year’s Leaving Certificate exams before knowing how it might affect them as no Government decision is likely to be made until after the local and European elections on June 5 — two days after the state exams begin.

The minister said he will only make final proposals after Government colleagues have been given all options on possible student contributions. He will present those options in a report, which he has already finalised, to Cabinet ministers in the next fortnight.