A chara, - Further to your leading article and editorial (August 18th) concerning the points system, now being examined by a commission appointed by the Minister for Education, Mr Michael Martin TD, I would like to offer my view on this important matter. In the final analysis, it is supply and demand which has created the points system - not, as is sometimes mistakenly thought, the Universities, DIT, RTCs or other third level establishments. If these institutions had sufficient places for all students who apply for them for courses, then the basic entry requirements would be sufficient and the problem of the points system would not arise. However, this is not the case - hence the fiercely competitive points system.
Here, I feel, third level reputable, recognised private colleges which: (a) are designated by the Department of Education through the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA) (b) have the highest standards and most up to date facilities (c) have courses comparable in every way to those in the universities, DIT and RTCs (d) have these courses validated and recognised by the Department of Education and (e) have an Academic and Financial Bonding Agreement which guarantees the completion of all courses upon which students have embarked, would be ideally placed to give hundreds, and over the years thousands, of very bright young people the opportunity of getting world recognised third level qualifications which they, otherwise, might not get because of the lack of places in the State System. This, it must be said, without any capital expenditure whatsoever on the part of the Government.
For this to happen, the Minister for Education should extend the third level free fees scheme to students attending those Department of Education recognised third level Private Colleges. By doing this, the Minister would (a) end the totally unjust discrimination which he, now, has inherited (b) make an immediate impact on the fiercely competitive Points System by reducing the mad scramble for points that, now, exists and which he so anxiously wants to address, and (c) gain the eternal gratitude of thousands of future bright students and their parents.
Now is the time for reputable State-recognised 3rd level Private Colleges - many of whose graduates hold key positions in business and industry both at home and abroad - to be brought in from the cold and allowed play their rightful part in reducing the intolerable pressure on pupils and parents.
The new Minister for Education, Mr Michael Martin TD, now has a great opportunity to end this injustice and thereby give thousands of very bright young people the opportunity of having a brighter future. - Yours, etc.,
Raymond Kearns,
President, Portobello College, South Richmond Street, Dublin 2.