The fear of debt is deterring Leaving Certificate students from considering higher education, a new study by the Union of Students of Ireland (USI) has shown.
The vast majority of those students surveyed who wanted to continue chose their college on a financial basis rather than where they wanted to study, and over half intended to finance their study by taking part-time employment.
However, 53 per cent of students did not want to pursue higher education at all.
The sample size for the USI survey was 350 Leaving Certificate students. Of those, 51 per cent were female and 49 per cent male; 37 per cent were from a rural region and 63 per cent from an urban region. The study was carried out among Leaving Certificate students from schools in Dublin, Waterford and Cork.
USI President, Mr Will Priestley, said: "These figures are alarming as they show that fear of debt from attending college is still a major deterrent for many leaving Cert students."
He said a total of 74 per cent of students surveyed would choose a college adjacent to their home while 63 per cent said their choice of college and course would be determined by financial reasons. "It is a matter of grave concern that 59 per cent of Leaving Cert students were unaware of the support available to them," he said.
He suggested that the Department took on an active role at the various careers fairs and college open days organised throughout the year for Leaving Certificate students to make students aware of available benefits.
Mr Priestley said more than half of respondents said that they intended to finance their study by obtaining part-time employment. This shattered the myth that the State or parents totally financed students' education and made a mockery of the idea that State supports alone were adequate for student survival, he said.
"Most worrying of all, 53 per cent stated that they didn't want to pursue a higher education," Mr Priestley stressed.
On the basis of these figures, the USI is suggesting that the Department should consider introducing at least two hours a week compulsory career guidance to post-Junior Certificate students. With regard to students in the Junior cycle, the union suggested that an introduction into the area be given in a subject such as Social Studies.