TEACHERS’ UNIONS and student representatives have raised concerns about a possible cap on student numbers at third level.
The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) says it would have “catastrophic consequences” for students, while the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) says it could lead to a new points race.
The possibility was raised by the chief executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA), Tom Boland, in an article in yesterday's Irish Times.
Mr Boland said the record number of student admissions was placing great strains on the third-level system, where resources were stretched to breaking point.
He said the third-level system “cannot increase the student numbers year on year’’ without addressing the funding crisis.
“If we cannot agree where sufficient resources can be found an option available is to follow the example of England, where they effectively cap the number of students . . .’’
TUI president Don Ryan said “a cap on numbers would have catastrophic consequences for potential students at a time when there was unprecedented demand for third-level places”.
“Now more than ever the demand for third-level places needed to be recognised and accommodated. Any restriction on student numbers would be a retrogressive, backward and foolhardy.’’
USI said a cap on places would result in an unfair rise in CAO points and create a new points race. Its president, Peter Mannion, claimed Mr Boland’s comments were part of “a carefully orchestrated campaign to force upon students yet again the issue of college tuition fees’’.
He said surely opening the door to education to everybody was better than forcing people on to the dole queue or forcing them to emigrate. “Creating an elitist and non-accessible education system is not what Ireland needs. We call on the Minster of Education, Batt O’Keeffe, and the Government to put their money where their mouth is and invest in an educational system that works for all.”
USI says it also runs counter to the Government’s labour market activation scheme, which opened up free college places to unemployed people.