Scandalcentral's Blog

3rd level: Who’s going to fund it? April 19, 2010

Last weekend we saw the Labour conference, in which they brought 3rd level educational funding back on everyone’s minds. This is a hugely contentious issue for students and the industry at whole which is in a position of limbo at present.

Ruairí Quinn: “Fianna Fail wants to bring back undergraduate fees which Labour successfully abolished in 1995. We will not let that happen. The campaign of Labour Youth and the Union of Students in Ireland has been successful.”

Labour continue to plough on with the same policy they implemented in 1995. A policy which is in many respects not a policy at all. What I mean by this is that it has resulted in a massive underfunding of third level education. It has led to a scenario where the Government is almost expected to fully fund our 3rd level sector. This is the same Government which hasn’t two brass shillings to rub together and wont have for some time to come.

Over the weekend, Labour expressed the idea that the Government would under Labour continue to pick up the bill for 3rd level even suggesting they will increase it to fill the black hole in many of our universities.

” ..Increasing financial resources for third level education is an investment in all our futures, in our young people and in our economy.”

Once again the question must be asked as to where will this money come from? For if it will come from the exchequer, what will be cut instead to make room for this extra expenditure? Ruairí Quinn, naturally (and somewhat typical of Labour), failed to outline his budgetary plans on this. (In 2008 the Government paid € 1356 million to 3rd level institutions due to the current free fees policy. This is separate to the other funding given such as capital expenditure etc.)

Quinn did mention the idea unveiled by Fine Gael several weeks ago, about increasing the numbers of foreign students studying in this state to increase revenues. While this will increase income,  a few points must be noted. Firstly, will university places increase to meet this new demand? If so, would this not increase costs? Hence a portion of this income would not be ‘profit’ for the industry. Secondly and conversely, if places are not increased this will result in probably less Irish students getting into 3rd level. This would be the students with the poorest academic results, which in a large proportion of cases is unfortunately Fchildrethose from low socio-economic backgrounds. Hence does this in itself not clash with the policy of free fees, which was to get rid of  the ” barrier between third level education and those very students that we need to go to college.”

The question of funding therefore is not answered by this Labour plan, at least not in my mind. I also have some ideological issues with the current system. Over the last 15 years the richest in this state have got their nearest and dearest through 3rd level without paying anymore than the poorest or middle class in this society. Is that actually fair? Should a father, with an income of one million a year, not pay something to his child’s 3rd level education? More importantly, why should he get it for free? The state doesn’t give these people medical cards, so why should we give them a free ride through 3rd level? There are many in this country who are well able to pay for their children’s 3rd level education (and many who are willing!) and who already in many cases pay fees at second level. Yet this state, during one of worst fiscal crises we have ever witnessed, doesn’t require them to pay their way? Personally, I’m repulsed by this very fact.  I believe, as do many Irish people I’m sure, that these people should pay. Now, don’t get me wrong, those from disadvantaged backgrounds etc should still and always be entitled to free 3rd level education. But the current situation and the situation which Labour wants to continue is ridiculous.

Many are aware that U.C.C recently introduced a conferring charge on students. This is an example of the failing of the current system. The Government clearly can’t afford to keep footing the bill, so they have shown the Universities the two fingers and told them to deal with it. U.C.C has decided to balance the books by charging the students. Do you really blame them, for how else would they easily get a couple hundred thousand? But once again, is this fair? However is it fair that students who were told the €1650 registration and capitation fee at the beginning of the year was it and then for U.C.C to turn around and give another bill to graduating students? U.C.C Young Fine Gael society along with the Student Union made a fuss about this which appears to have led to them rethinking the figure. The whole reality of the situation is that as long as the 3rd level system is underfunded, the students will be picking up the tab. This fee, along with U.C.C’s printing fees and other miscellaneous charges, must be paid by all students and students of all socio-economic backgrounds. Hence these famous financial barriers to education have not really been removed. Many of the other barriers have never been addressed properly. Namely, how to get those from disadvantaged area’s into 3rd level. We have had 15 years of “no fees” and yet the numbers entering 3rd level from certain parts of this state has no changed substantially at all. In many cases academic performance at 2nd level is a major issue. In many other cases, students have dropped out before their Leaving Certificate, meaning access for them is not a major uphill battle. Yet where is the headline grabbing by the political parties trying to solve this problem?

The Fine Gael “3rd way” document does deserve a mention as when one examines the future direction of 3rd level education, we should look at all opposition perspectives to be fair. The document claims that while 3rd level funding has increased over the last 10 years, it has not increased fast enough to keep pace with the explosion in numbers at 3rd level. The document contains so very needed idea’s including that college’s should be more transparent with its accounts so the taxpayer funding them know’s where their money is being spent. It also (Rightly) challenges 3rd level institutes to interact more with industry to find out what kind of graduates we need and in what area’s. As being fair, the state is spurning out thousands of art’s and humanities graduate’s- without a massive need and failing to fill the gap in the science and engineering area. But the key issue I’m interested in is the access one. It does address it. The document outlines how the grant for the poorest should be increased and how those students should be monitored to see if it’s really enough. It also proposes a huge expansion of the HEAR programme which allows those from poorer backgrounds enter 3rd level even if they don’t have the points but have the ability for the particular course. It also deals with issues at primary and second level for these students. The document also deals with funding. It outlines how it will abolish the registration fee. It maintains that the majority of funding will still come from the exchequer. The students will not have fees during college nor will they have the loan system, instead they will be required to pay a higher rate of PRSI for a number of years after graduation. The document claims this will raise 500 million a year. In many respects this is a positive idea. For up to now political parties have almost refused to even acknowledge the funding question. It raises some very important points about the flexibility of the payment of this and the fact that a student is paying just 30% of the total cost of the degree rather than all. Overall this is positive.

“Free fees” may get some college votes in an election, but it doesn’t address the chronic underfunding at 3rd level. It doesn’t address the access problem that still exists.  It doesn’t provide a real, viable solution to a hugely important issue. I can only hope that the funding system for 3rd level is properly examined soon.

Reference links:

Third Way Document- Fine Gael:

http://www.finegael.org/upload/file/3rdway.pdf

Ruairí Quinn- Labour:

http://www.labour.ie/press/listing/12715003352941873.html

Note: I acknowledge not all political parties policies in this area were discussed here. I hope to deal with them in the future.