AIT chief opposes third-level fees

The reintroduction of third-level fees would only hinder Ireland"s way out of the recession, according to the president of the Athlone Institute of Technology. Prof Ciaran O Cathain said if barriers were erected to discourage people from attending college, then Ireland"s reputation as a knowledge-based economy would be badly affected. 'A lot of our students are the first generation in their family to attend college and I don"t believe any barrier should be put up to prevent that. I"m the first too from my family to go to college, so I"m speaking with conviction. When you"re breaking with tradition it"s important that there are no barriers in the way,' he said. 'The Government are talking about a knowledge-based economy, but fees could stop that from happening. Also education is a way out of the recession. We do innovation very well and we"ve got to drive that enterprise and knowledge-based economy.' He said that the current mounting speculation over whether the Government would reintroduce college fees in a bid to shore up the national debt and in what format, was only causing worry to parents. 'It"s a very difficult time for parents, I"ve got two children myself doing the Leaving Cert in 2010 - when the fees are expected to come in. Hard decisions have to be made. Will the government introduce a graduate tax or a student loan? Will grants still be available to those who need them? Around 60% to 65% of our students here receive grants and if those students are still protected, then it"s ok. But what happens if they are not?' he asked. Prof O Cathain also said that there were few alternative options available now to a person who decided not to continue on to third level education because of the current economic dip. 'If they don"t go to college, what"s the alternative? There"s been a 90% drop in some trades. Jobs aren"t there. You"ve got to have people who are trained,' the president added.