A new report just published looks into the future of third level education in Ireland.
Three separate stances have been proposed:
A state-funded system, with no studen fees
Substantially increased state funding with continued student fees
A student loan system
As the number people going into third level education is expected to significantly increase over the next few years, the current system has been deemed ‘unfit for purpose,’ and thus the aforementioned report delves into which is the best option to fund and foster education in Ireland.
Each option has upsides and downsides: The first and third option would offer ‘free’ entry into the education system, with no upfront fees, for instance. However, the third option (student loans) would saddle a person with debt even before they start making any substantial wage.
The future of third level education funding remains unclear, but given the track record of the current Government, any system which may ultimately fail to produce a substantial return on investment by the public coffers is probably not a runner.