It’s no harm for third-level graduates to get a lesson in debt

Public funding is addictive, and the withdrawal symptoms are painful. But everyone would gain from a system that puts students first so that university becomes an education again, not merely something to fill three years of your life. The model to strive for is varied institutions charging varied fees

THE waiting is nearly over. Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe will bring his proposals on third-level tuition fees to Cabinet in about a week’s time.

He has already said the new charges would only apply to new entrants next year. Critically, though, he still hasn’t announced what the threshold would be above which a contribution will be expected. A number of options, such as fees, loans and graduate taxes, are all apparently under consideration.