Lads,
I will explain the Irish System which is about $3000 a year with 40% waived that fee based on parents income.
First about 50% of students in Ireland goto public universities and colleges. There are private colleges as well but most employers believe it is for kids either too lazy or too stupid for public college.
Selection is simple, at 16 you pick 6-7 subjects for your Leaving Cert which you study for two years. You do state exams in and you results (top 6 subjects) are given points(i.e. A+ 100, A 90,....). You can repeat the following year.
During your final year you select which courses you like to do in order of preference (e.g 1. Dentistry in Dublin University, 2. Dentistry in Cork, 3. Engineering in Galway....). Changes are allowed right up until results day.
A few days after results the national papers release publicly your number(not name) and the course you are offered. Selection is done on supply and demand, best results first. Accept or reject on that. The accept numbers are published on that day too. Very transparent and it is your right to be accepted if get the grades, don't get the grades you are not accepted (no exceptions, you would be taking someone elses place).
So the smartest hard working kids get rewarded no matter what their parents wealth situation is. Parents with money pay for extra tuition but the exams themselves are geared more to creativeness & complex problem solving rather than rote learning.
So the system is supply and demand, hard work rewarded. No special rules for minorities or disadvantaged but schools of disadvantaged areas get more help and are encouraged to educate themselves out of poverty.
So how is this paid, simple. Ireland discovered like a lot of countries a long time ago that a college education on average pays back 9 times on its investment in taxes later when comparing to non college educated taxpayers. This is a no brainer for the government.
And just in case you wonder are corporations complaining, Yes, they complain anytime there is a single dime taken out of education. They are very vocal on the money invested and the type of education given. They have repeatedly stated that Universities are not job training but a method to develop rounded individuals who can enter the workplace with background knowledge in the field they are entering. They want people who think for a living and can work with others and are very critical of rote learning. That comes from both the indigenous companies as well as the Multinationals.
Any thoughts?
Yes.
Why does anyone learn Irish?.....I mean, The Irish speak English, so what is the point?
It is apart of our culture, what makes us Irish. It is like 4th of July and Baseball to Americans...