Coughlan refuses to rule out fees hike

EDUCATION Minister Mary Coughlan has refused to rule out a hike in college registration fees.

Speaking in Dublin after meeting pupils who had collected their Leaving Certificate results, Ms Coughlan indicated that colleges were struggling in the tough economic times and, as a result, increases in third-level education service charges could not be ruled out.

Asked to clarify her position on college registration fees, the minister indicated families may not be saved from hikes in administration charges next year. “I haven’t made any decisions and come to any decision with the minister for finance on the reductions in my expenditure. That won’t be happening until the budget.

“I can’t rule out anything at this moment and time... I do appreciate that the third level is under considerable pressure and we’ve heard a number of universities indicate that themselves.”

Students currently pay €1,500 in registration fees in most colleges. The minister has already ruled out reintroducing standard college fees.

The minister said she was working hard with the third level institutions to see how greater efficiencies can be achieved in difficult times.

Ms Coughlan also indicated an overhaul of the maths course was on the cards after the successful completion of a new pilot course at 24 schools. The Tánaiste said the new “user friendly” Project Maths course, used for the first time this year, would be rolled out nationwide after its successful completion in 24 schools.

The new course attracted a bigger percentage of higher level students (18.7%) while the failure rate of ordinary level students was just over half that of those who sit the traditional maths paper.

Reacting to this year’s results, Engineers Ireland director general John Power said that, instead of criticising maths teachers, industry needs to do more to support them in teaching the subject in a manner that helps students fully engage with its real-life applications.

Meanwhile, Ms Coughlan also called on pupils to remain calm ahead of CAO offers on Monday and said disappointed students could always resit exams or review their education options.

Worried students should seek advice from career guidance counsellors or teachers once offers became known, she said.

Aontas, the national adult learning organisation, said the fear of fees being introduced was a factor in a fall in external candidates from 4,361 to 3,737 in this year’s Leaving Certificate.