Minister & Taoiseach signal support for graduate tax.

Monday March 03, 2003 18:05

by Oisin Kelly- UCDSU Education Vice President elect - SP

The Minister for Education and the Taoiseach have signalled their support for a Graduate Tax.

The Minister for Education, Noel Dempsey, has been making noises about bringing back fees, in some form or another, throughout the year. The Government have been spinning it so that they say it's all about widening access to education.

Over the weekend the Taoisech signalled that he supports Dempsey's "review" of the funding of 3rd level education. The Government are planning to re-introduce fees, in some form. Last year the registration fee was increased by 69%. This year the Government may increase that fee to over €1000. The prospect of fees being re-introduced should not be ruled out. Although it looks as if they will bring in the "Graduate Tax" or "Student Loan" system.

This has to be met with stern and determined opposition from Students. Graduate Tax is essentially a 'double tax'. It is an attack on the living standards of graduates and is a very much a part of the agenda of cut-backs of this government. The Government are serious about bringing in cut-backs in education, we need Students' Unions that are also serious. Mass non-payment of fees, and nationwide stoppages in colleges should not be ruled out.

In UCD over the past year the Campaign for Free Education (CFE) has been at the forefront of opposition to the government's plans to cut-back in education. It is essential that we get organised into genuine campaigning democratic organisations if students are to successfully defeat the government on this issue. Furthermnore it's essentiall that SUs are reclaimed from the hacks and cronies that currently dominate and that we link up with Trade Union activists and Community Campaigners in a fight against the wider agenda of cut-backs.

LINKS:
http://www.freeeducation.cjb.net (CFE)
http://www.syucd.cjb.net
http://www.socialistparty.net