Charging third-level fees

Madam, – I think it rather unfair of Muireann Lynch (October 30th) to suggest that students who have attended private secondary…

Madam, – I think it rather unfair of Muireann Lynch (October 30th) to suggest that students who have attended private secondary schools and grind schools should be liable to pay full third-level fees.

Many families cannot afford to send their children to these schools, but do so to give their children every opportunity to be the best they can. This is because of the massive failure of the Department of Education to implement a structure whereby teachers can be fired for incompetency.

I could not afford to send my children to a private institution but instead ended up paying thousands of euro for extra grinds outside school hours. Should I also therefore be penalised when my children enter third-level education? – Yours, etc,

ANN FITZPATRICK,

Straffan Road,

Kill, Co Kildare.