I believe a gang of 3rd level students broke into the Dept of TRANSPORT today to protest against the reintroduction of fees. If that's the level of intelligence and research they bring to their studies, I'm glad we won't be paying for them for much longer.
LOL.
I listened to Alan Dukes on Q&A last night and agreed with everything he said on the matter. That lightweight from Labour was useless.
Maybe I'm getting old but Dukes, Spring, Reynolds, even CJ... they all seem so much more intelligent than the current bunch of politicians we have (in all parties).
"Fianna Fáil will not capitulate to the Media!"
Lex Foutish, post of the week nomination!
Ah the memories (what was wrong with Spring's back though?)
Good post Lex, but surely a spelling mistake - is it not "meeja" ?
+1seriously though, where do people stand on free 3rd level education? I think its a luxury the country just can't afford at the moment. I think people from disadvantaged backgrounds should get financial assistance to go on to college, including a grant for books, accommodation if necessary etc. I think students from middle class backgrounds should have to pay their way.
Seriously though, where do people stand on free 3rd level education? I think its a luxury the country just can't afford at the moment. I think people from disadvantaged backgrounds should get financial assistance to go on to college, including a grant for books, accommodation if necessary etc. I think students from middle class backgrounds should have to pay their way.
Hi MissRibena. Poor Dick genuinely suffered from a bad back and was often in severe discomfort with it. Might be rugby related but I'm not sure.
Have vague recollection of it being a serious car crash.
Seriously though, where do people stand on free 3rd level education? I think its a luxury the country just can't afford at the moment. I think people from disadvantaged backgrounds should get financial assistance to go on to college, including a grant for books, accommodation if necessary etc. I think students from middle class backgrounds should have to pay their way.
Seriously though, where do people stand on free 3rd level education? I think its a luxury the country just can't afford at the moment. I think people from disadvantaged backgrounds should get financial assistance to go on to college, including a grant for books, accommodation if necessary etc. I think students from middle class backgrounds should have to pay their way.
3rd level fees are a bad idea. Everyone in this country should have equal access to education and the ability to stay in the education system to the limit of their potential. I'm sure the same arguments as we are getting today were trotted out regarding free second level education several decades ago i.e. that it benefits "middle class" people etc. I think there is absolutely no doubt that free second level education has been a huge success and has allowed a lot more people stay within the education system. I would hope that in 20-30 years time, we will be able to look back and say the same about third level education.
Any system that requires people to pay more, even if deferred to when they graduate, or requires people to go through a complex and rigid means testing system will discourage a lot of people. It will also be open to abuse. Students from disadvantaged backgrounds have to overcome enough barriers without adding more. I've no doubt that the reintroduction of fees will mean a dramatic reduction in the number of students from working class or disadvantaged backgrounds attending third level.
Be careful of vested interests at work. It is very much in the interests of the professional classes to re-introduce third level fees. It will mean a return to the old days whereby, their children have a lot less competition for third level places thus meaning that their particular professions can continue to be dominated by certain families whereby sons/daughters take over from their parents - not that different to politics when you think about it, so you can see why many politicians support fees.
The official figures going around say that since the abolition of fees, the rate of participation of children from families of skilled manual workers increased from 32% to 50% and from families of unskilled manual workers from 23% to 33%. Speaks for itself.
I dont think that it is valid to use Australia and NZ as examples as they never had the free education system we have. Its easy to say participation rates have not impacted when you are going from a fee paying situation, which essentially barred those from lower income groups, to student loans.
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