‘Learn now, pay later’ – it’s not a bright idea
The notion of giving students ‘free fees’ at college on condition they repay them when they graduate and begin working is very dangerous.
Under such a scheme, young people would be starting their professional lives in debt. This will scare off second-level students who are considering going to college.
There are already huge demands on young people starting out in life. They are expected to fork out insurance premia which are effectively rip-offs.
The price of a new home, and even rental accommodation, is beyond the means of many young couples in good jobs. Price hikes and inflation are making wage packets disappear like the morning dew.
Young people do not need to be burdened any further. The new generation should not have to pay for the binge by those who blew away our boom.
The Government has set up a special group to review the situation which is a worrying development in itself.
However, the work of this group has been continually undermined and prejudiced by public utterances from both the Taoiseach and Education Minister to the effect that the era of access and equality offered by free third-level fees is coming to an end.
Who could forget the devastating 69% hike for third-level registration fees?
This came despite recommendations within the Department of Education for a much more modest 7% rise. Both the Education and Finance ministers are therefore ignoring good advice and commonsense, and causing unnecessary hardship.
The increase in the registration fee is heartless, senseless, elitist, and smacks of worse to come.
Sean McKiernan, Jnr.,
Trinity Bungalow,
Virginia Road,
Bailieboro,
Co Cavan
