Writing by Rachael Ryan, Head of Communications
This April, we were asked by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) to facilitate adult learners to share their ideas and perspectives on the cost of education in Ireland. This “Funding the Future: The Cost of Education” event took place in the Midlands Hotel in Portlaoise on Thursday 11th April.
The focus of the event was to bring together a broad range of learners from Higher Education, Further Learning and Training (FET) and apprenticeships, with education practitioners, student access officers, and groups advocating for underrepresented students.
AONTAS are leading experts in Learner Voice in Ireland, and this was the second time we were asked by the Department to facilitate learners to attend this event. We helped the learners from FET to have their opinions heard and inform the Department’s forthcoming options paper for the next Budget on reducing the cost of education for all students.
This is particularly important to us as we will soon launch a national campaign on the need for more financial supports for adult learners across Ireland.
Barriers to Education Keith Moynes, Assistant Secretary for DFHERIS, gave the opening address, saying that this second annual “Funding the Future” event is “one of the most important days of the year” for the Department. Mr Moynes went on to say that the Department was there to listen and that one of their missions was to “remove any barrier that there is to education”.
The big focus of the day was on the cost of education and what the Government can do to reduce it, which ties directly into our recent policy brief on the subject and the discussions we hosted at our “Who Does It Cost?” event as part of AONTAS’ Adult Learners Festival 2024.
From our advocacy and research, we have found that there are still too many barriers to education for adults in Ireland, particularly those from under-resourced communities.
Our CEO Dearbháil chaired a panel discussion with learners from a variety of backgrounds to get an overview of the main challenges and barriers facing students in Ireland today.
On the panel were Jessica Cullinan from Pearse College, graduate apprentice Paul King, USI Campaigns Officer Zaid Al Bargouthi, and TU Dublin student Annabel Biddulph.
Paul King, who graduated from an apprenticeship in software development last year, stressed the need for transport and accommodation supports to be provided for students.
“Even though I was being paid for my apprenticeship, with travel costs you were almost coming out with nothing,” Paul said. “A few people from my course travelling from Belfast had to drop out because they couldn’t afford it anymore.”
TU Dublin student Annabel emphasised that she felt the Government was out of touch with the reality of the student experience. She pointed out that not all higher education students are being funded by their parents and feels the amount of information required to get support is “invasive” and “discriminatory”.
She went on to say: “I live in constant fear of being forced not to pursue an education due to my personal circumstances.”
The panel discussion was followed by roundtable discussions, with each group talking through questions on existing supports, what is working and what improvements can be made; the need for new supports; and the long-term goals needed to reduce the cost of education.
Suggestions included abolishing education fees completely, with a promise from graduates to stay in Ireland for four years and pay back the fees when they start working. Another idea was for every individual to get an education “credit” to use at any time during their life.
A lack of mental health supports, scarce accommodation, expensive food on campuses and in local centres, along with a lack of transport for rural areas were all flagged as areas where improvements in support could be made for learners.
Staff from the Department took note of all opinions and ideas expressed at the event, ensuring that all information gathered would be fed back to DFHERIS and the Minister.
There was some disappointment expressed by the attendees that the new Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, was not present at the event, on the second day of his new role.
In closing the event, Professor Tom Collins stated that a lot of the issues around education could be solved by tackling one glaring issue in Irish society today – housing.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Innovation, Research and Science will publish their options paper later this year. Read their 2023 ‘Funding the Future’ report here.