Madam, – Colm Fitzgerald (July 13th) is asking himself “Is it really worth it?” to go to college if the proposed deferred college fees payment system comes into effect. I understand why he is unhappy about having to repay a debt after graduation, but the answer to his question is still undoubtedly “yes”.
According to the original Irish Times report on this story that Mr Fitzgerald referred to, college graduates in Ireland earn 70 per cent more on average than those without third-level qualifications.
Here in Australia, there has been a deferred fees system in place for years. Graduates pay 4 to 8 per cent extra tax once they start earning a reasonable salary, and continue to do so until their debt is paid off, which takes about 10 years on average.
Assuming the Irish system would be similar, the question becomes: “Is it worth paying an extra 4 to 8 per cent tax for a decade in order to earn 70 per cent extra for my whole career?” You don’t need a degree in economics to work that one out. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – I’m not against fees in principle, but the fee structure proposed by the Government sounds counter productive.
They are going to charge 50 per cent higher fees for the likes of engineering and science (“College loan plan would cost students minimum of €21,000”, July 13th).
What effect will that have? Ireland already produces too few scientists and engineers while 40 per cent of graduates study Arts, many of whom might as well not have bothered.
Charging €10,000 extra to study something useful, something that the country actually needs, will mean fewer 17-year-olds will pick those subjects, much to their later regret.
If we are not going to use our universities for the benefit of the country, then we may as well privatise them.
Numerate disciplines, which Ireland needs, should be cheaper than non-numerate ones, and students should receive discounts for opting for additional foreign languages.
It’s not rocket science... – Yours, etc,