Act NOW Against the Increase!

The government's 69% increase in capitation fees for third level students is a re-introduction of fees by the back door, and a stepping stone of fees of up to -4,000 per year for college.  This increase is part of a conscious drive of cutbacks of the government on a whole range of issues.  You cannot trust this government to take care of education, ordinary students need to fight back.

The Need to Fight Back!

Education should be a right, not a privilege.  The state has an obligation to provide free, and the best quality education so that real equality of opportunity can exist.  This increase will further restrict access to an already highly restricted education system.

The government claims that this increase will only hit the rich, because of a waiver scheme which means that those on the grant don't have to pay.  This is a lie.  The vast majority of ordinary people do not qualify for the grant because if you have two parents on the minimum wage, your parents already earn too much for you to qualify for the grant!

What type of Campaign is necessary?

This increase is a serious attack by the government on education, and it will have to be met with a serious response of students. The government will not back down because of negotiation or because it will suddenly see the error of its ways - it will have to be forced.  What is needed is resolute action by students all across the country.

Campaigns of this sort by students against increases in fees for third level education have worked before, and will work again.  Mass action of students as the only way to defeat this increase

The Campaign for Free Education is a broad group open to all students opposed to this increase in fees and against any fees for third level education.  We are united in the belief that it is only mass action of ordinary students which will defeat the government on this issue, and call on all students to join the Campaign and get active.

YOU can defeat the fees

Unless students do more than complain about the fee increase, we will be unable to fight it. 

Oppose paying €4,000 to go to college

The government plans to re-introduce full fees for third level education.  Unless we act now, you will have to pay €4,000 to go to college next year, and every year.  Thousands of students will drop out, and hundreds of thousands of ordinary people will be denied access to third level education.

Education should be a right, not a privilege.  The state has an obligation to provide free, and the best quality education, so that real equality of opportunity can exist.

Instead, the government has attacked the right of ordinary people to go to college.  The increase of 69% of capitation fees was the first attack of many on education.  Action is needed now by students to make sure that these attacks are defeated.

Join the Fightback

Students have already acted against paying €4,000 to go to college, with protests in UCD and an occupation of the Department of Education proving to the government that we won't accept it without a fight.  What is needed now is mass action of students on campuses across the country to show that if the government does not back down, it will be unable to continue without disruption.  The government is vulnerable because it's under pressure from all sections of society, and can be defeated.  We demand that the government withdraw the 69% increase in December's budget, and that they back down from their plans for full fees.  Resolute action of students will force this government to back down.

Act now or pay €4,000 next year

Complaining about paying €4,000 to go to college is not good enough.  If you act now you can ensure that you can still afford to go to college next year.  This means signing up to the activist list, coming along to the organising meetings, so if you are opposed to these attacks on education you should join the Campaign.

Act NOW Against the Increase!

The government's 69% increase in capitation fees for third level students is a re-introduction of fees by the back door, and a stepping stone of fees of up to -4,000 per year for college.  This increase is part of a conscious drive of cutbacks of the government on a whole range of issues.  You cannot trust this government to take care of education, ordinary students need to fight back.

The Need to Fight Back!

Education should be a right, not a privilege.  The state has an obligation to provide free, and the best quality education so that real equality of opportunity can exist.  This increase will further restrict access to an already highly restricted education system.

The government claims that this increase will only hit the rich, because of a waiver scheme which means that those on the grant don't have to pay.  This is a lie.  The vast majority of ordinary people do not qualify for the grant because if you have two parents on the minimum wage, your parents already earn too much for you to qualify for the grant!

What type of Campaign is necessary?

This increase is a serious attack by the government on education, and it will have to be met with a serious response of students. The government will not back down because of negotiation or because it will suddenly see the error of its ways - it will have to be forced.  What is needed is resolute action by students all across the country.

Campaigns of this sort by students against increases in fees for third level education have worked before, and will work again.  Mass action of students is the only way to defeat this increase

The Campaign for Free Education is a broad group open to all students opposed to this increase in fees and against any fees for third level education.  We are united in the belief that it is only mass action of ordinary students which will defeat the government on this issue, and call on all students to join the Campaign and get active.