Third level will be targeted as budget cuts deepen . . .
College classes will be bigger and the points race will be tougher
Cutbacks on the way: DCU president Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Students and college heads will be among those waiting with bated breath today as they find out some of the effects of the Budget on third-level education.
Larger class sizes because of falling staff numbers, poorer library facilities, a curb on the growth in numbers, and a possible increase in registration charges are all on the cards as colleges face further cutbacks in the coming year.
Informed speculation suggests that the presidents of the country's universities will face a pay cut of 15pc in today's Budget.
Among the options that Finance Minister Brian Lenihan might have considered is a further hike in Ireland's hefty college registration fees. But many third-level observers believe an immediate increase is unlikely.
The recent Programme for Government agreed with the Greens shut down the minister's proposals to bring back direct fees.
However, the government still has the sneakier option of introducing fees by the back door by hiking the registration fee, which will continue to be reviewed on an annual basis.
The maximum amount of registration fee is set by Mr Lenihan. He could set it today or wait until the spring.
Last year's budget allowed for an increase in the student registration charge from €900 to €1,500 in colleges for the 2009/2010 academic year.
Although students fear another hike, Ferdinand von Prondzynski, the president of Dublin City University and a supporter of tuition fees, does not foresee an increase in the Budget.
"It would be seen as much too cynical to raise the registration charge just after the government promised that it would not introduce fees.''
After the government sets a maximum registration fee, each college sets its charge in consultation with the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Department of Education. Whenever the Government allows the fee to be increased, most colleges follow suit immediately.
The registration fee is supposed to be charged for non-tuition services provided to students, such as exams, sports facilities, health services and career advice.
But the fee has been at the centre of controversy in recent weeks. Student representatives claim that colleges are using most of their €1,500-a-head registration charges to plug gaps in state funding.
The claim by student representatives in the country's two largest universities, TCD and UCD, is being investigated by the HEA.
"We have sought legal advice on how this money is spent,'' says USI president Peter Mannion. The controversy over the use of the money perhaps limits the scope for further significant hikes.
A confidential government report on student contributions, which was seen by the Irish Independent, showed the government recently considered hiking the charge by as much as €1,000.
The report said that increasing the student charge by a further €1,000 would raise €54m.
Whatever about registration fees, most observers believe third-level education was a big loser from the recent coalition deal which rescued the government.
With Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe forced to row back on cuts to primary and second-level schools, third-level colleges will now have to take a greater hit. "I can see reduced staffing levels in universities in the next two years,'' says Mr von Prondzynski.
"As a result, the size of classes will grow.
"It will be harder to teach small groups of students. This will hit science subjects particularly hard, because if you are doing laboratory experiments it can only be done in small groups.''
Cutbacks in building repairs and facilities such as computer labs and libraries are already happening. These are only likely to get worse as a result of further cuts.
"I think there is an absence of understanding of the nature of the crisis affecting higher education,'' says Mr von Prondzynski.
"The cutbacks have not just happened recently. They have been happening over the past five or six years.''
HEA chief executive Tom Boland said last week that if colleges could not get sufficient funding, either from Government or fees, places would have to be limited.
This is likely to push up the points needed for most courses.
Irish Independent
