Reports today suggest 12 fee-paying schools - over a fifth of the private schools in the country - are considering dropping fees because parents can no longer afford to enroll their children, leading to a drop in attendance numbers. The Irish Independent says the schools have begun talks with the Department of Education about removing tuition fees and becoming public.

However, while the number of pupils in fee-paying schools has decreased overall over the last five years, a small amount of private schools, such as Dublin’s Belvedere College, have managed to increase their numbers. Others, such as Kilkenny College, have already completed the process of becoming state-funded.

Yesterday, High Court judge Mr. Justice Gerard Hogan ruled that a 12-year-old boy “ranked in the very highest percentile of scholastic achievements for his age” should be enrolled in a private school that had offered him a place. The family law ruling came as a result of a dispute between the boy’s separated parents, with the father seeking to have his son enrolled in a non fee-paying school (a decision initially backed by the Circuit Court).

There are many arguments for and against private schooling. Fee-paying schools have gained a reputation as ‘feeder schools’, with more pupils advancing to third-level. However, statistics suggest that public schools can perform just as well when adequately resourced. On the other hand, many state schools continue to struggle with resources, especially in less populated areas.

Do you believe private schools play a valuable role in Irish education? In your opinion, are some parents more swayed by the ‘status’ associated with private schooling rather than any actual educational benefits? Are the fees worth it? Vote in our poll and leave your comments believe.