At a time when the government repeatedly acknowledges the pressure families are under, it makes absolutely no sense to reintroduce this charge.
The decision to reintroduce state exam fees, which would heap further pressure on Meath families already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, must be reversed, according to councillor and secondary-school teacher Ronan Moore.
Cllr. Moore stated:
“The decision to bring back fees, with little to no warning, for students sitting the Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate sends the wrong signal to families who are already facing rising costs across all aspects of daily life. Families are already being squeezed from every direction. Reintroducing exam fees at this moment is completely out of touch with the reality many households are living in. The waiver of the fees in recent years proved that the State can ensure access to exams without placing additional financial burdens on parents – the sky did not fall in when families were spared this extra cost.”
“And though the government might point to the small print of its recent budget to illustrate that it had planned for this, schools and parents are only hearing this news in March with a final deadline to pay by the end of April. What is more, many households who will be hit with this unexpected cost, often have two siblings sitting the Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert.”
“Some students will qualify for exemptions, many families who are just above the eligibility thresholds will still struggle to cover the additional expense – a significant step backwards. Thousands of families do not qualify for a medical card but are still finding it incredibly difficult to make ends meet; these households will once again be forced to absorb yet another bill.”
“The decision also risks undermining the principle that education should be accessible to every student, regardless of their financial circumstances. No student should feel that sitting their exams comes with a price tag their family can barely afford. The government must reverse this decision and commit to permanently removing State examination fees. It makes absolutely no sense to reintroduce this charge. Education should be truly free.”
