Ninth Level Ireland

“Two-thirds of children from DEIS schools want to go to college, but many lack confidence in their ability do so, according to new research. A study carried out by academics involving secondary school students and parents also found that social factors were also an obstacle in some cases to moving into higher education – including a fear that they would not fit in …” (more)

[Noel Baker, BreakingNews.ie, 19 August]

“Sir, – The recent comments by Minister for Education Joe McHugh, stating that students who can’t afford to go to university should consider regional options (Home News, August 14th) are elitist and imply that studying in university is only for the wealthy …” (more)

[Laura Harmon, Irish Times, 17 August]

“UCD students’ union has claimed the competition for higher education has now reached an ‘alarming level’ as entry requirements for a course at the university exceeded 600 points for the first time ever. The minimum entry requirements for economics and finance at University College Dublin (UCD) surpassed 600 points, attracting a cut-off of 601 points …” (more)

[Jess Casey, Irish Examiner, 16 August]

“How often we have heard in recent years how we must aspire to be a society and not just an economy. The CAO points released yesterday for almost 60,000 students are an interesting barometer in this regard. Those who have attained their CAO preference have an entitlement to savour the moment …” (more)

[Editorial, Independent, 16 August]

“About 50,000 applicants received an offer of a college place from the Central Applications Office (CAO) on Thursday afternoon. Here are some of the big trends from this year’s figures. 1. Brexit uncertainty. Uncertainty generated by Brexit seems to have resulted in a significant drop in the points requirements for most courses in the agricultural and food sectors …” (more)

[Brian Mooney, Irish Times, 15 August]

“Universities are not giving any blanket guarantee that students who appeal their exam grades and get a late CAO offer in September are assured a place this year. Colleges say that, depending on the course, they may not be able to accommodate the student in 2019/20 and will ask them to defer for a year …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 August]

“Higher Education Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor has been accused of ‘wink-and-elbow politics’ after she made scores of representations on behalf of students whose Susi application was rejected. The Fine Gael minister wants students around the country to contact her office if their application for a grant is rejected by Susi …” (more)

[Hugh O’Connell, Independent, 16 August]

“Universities handed out a record number of CAO round one offers to meet the growing demand from school-leavers chasing jobs in the economy. They opened more places in courses leading to careers in areas such as Stem and second-level teaching where employers are crying out for graduates …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 August]

“For so many students, so much hinges on a mix of chance and the choices of tens of thousands of their peers. This year, 51,513 students received an offer in round one but, for many, CAO points rises – particularly for science, technology, maths and engineering courses – will mean it’s not the course they had hoped for …” (more)

[Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 15 August]

“Points for degrees in science, technology, maths and engineering have jumped as students flock towards courses with strong job prospects. Overall, the number of courses commanding in excess of 500 CAO points has climbed to a new high …” (more)

[CAO round one offers here]
[Carl O’Brien, Peter McGuire and Éanna Ó Caollaí, Irish Times, 15 August]

“CAO points for college entry have crashed the 600-point limit for the first time. In a remarkable development in CAO Round 1, the cut-off points for UCD’s prestigious BSc Economics and Finance has hit 601. In the 33-year history of the CAO, it’s the first course where more than 600 Leaving Cert points were needed to get an offer …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 15 August]

“Girls have once again outperformed boys in a majority of higher level subjects in this year’s Leaving Cert. A gender breakdown of the results shows girls secured a higher proportion of top grades – H1s, H2s and H3s, or 70-100% – across most subjects …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 15 August]

“The Government has been heavily criticised for suggesting students should use their Susi grant to cover the cost of accommodation, or go to regional colleges. Fianna Fáil accused Fine Gael of having a ‘let them eat cake’ attitude to higher education costs facing families, as Leaving Cert students receive their first round CAO offers today …” (more)

[Hugh O’Connell, Independent, 15 August]

“University College Dublin (UCD) had a higher rate of first-preference applications than Trinity from the CAO’s preliminary stages this year, The University Times has learned. At a meeting of University Council earlier this year, Provost Patrick Prendergast reportedly asked why UCD had a higher rate of first-preference applications than Trinity …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 15 August]

“The SUSI grant was never intended to cover the full cost of college, the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Higher Education has said. Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Mary Mitchell O’Connor also ruled out a proposal by the incoming President of the National Parents Council Post Primary that the Government could act as co-guarantor for loans that parents have to take out to cover the cost of their children’s third-level education …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 14 August]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne, has said the Minister for Education must not be allowed to wait for the next Government to tackle the tumbling ratings of Ireland’s Universities. Deputy Byrne was speaking following comments made by Minister McHugh where he stated that the Government will not act to address the crisis in higher education in this Dáil …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 14 August]

“Minister for Higher Education Mary Mitchell O’Connor has advised students to use their grant from the SUSI grant to pay for accommodation increases, amid a funding crisis the government says it can’t tackle until after a general election …” (more)

[Orla Murnaghan, University Times, 14 August]

“Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Fingal Louise O’Reilly has criticised the Fine Gael led government labelling it ‘arrogant and out of touch’, as two Ministers offer tea and sympathy to students and families facing rising third level costs. Deputy O’Reilly said: …” (more)

[Sinn Féin, 14 August]

“Plans to tackle the funding crisis in Ireland’s third-level institutions are being scrapped until after the next election as the Government insists the sector already receives significant amounts of taxpayers’ money. Despite universities warning that nearly €140m in extra funding is needed to cater for rising student numbers, the Government signalled yesterday it would not move on the three-year-old Cassells report, which lays out options for the future funding of the sector …” (more)

[Hugh O’Connell, Independent, 14 August]

“Stanley Petlane joined the more than 58,000 Leaving Cert students around the country in nervously opening the envelope containing his exam results on Tuesday morning. He was relieved he had done well and pleasantly surprised by his high score in physics …” (more)

[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 13 August]