“The general election result will mean a wider gulf between ‘top’ universities and the rest, and an end to widening participation. The trouble with the Conservative victory in the election is not only that we are stuck with a system of funding higher education that will burden graduates with debt …” (more)
[Peter Scott, Guardian, 1 June]
“The removal of a dedicated guidance counselling service from secondary schools ‘has entrenched the privilege of those who are already privileged’, the professional body representing counsellors has said …” (more)
[Joe Humphreys, Irish Times, 19 May]
“The last decades have seen a rapid growth in the number of students going into higher education in English-speaking countries such as the United States, including those from lower income backgrounds. But has this created more equal societies? …” (more)
[Simon Marginson, University World News, 1 May]
“Key Points: Early intervention is important to improve the progression rates of under-represented socio-economic groups from second-level education to higher education. Particularly effective modes of intervention include enhanced guidance-counselling provisions at second level and higher-education-engagement programmes …” (more)
[RIA Advice paper no 6 / 2015]
“Educational reform and Junior Cert reform in particular has been getting a bit of coverage lately. One observation which struck me was by Tom Collins, formerly Professor of Education at NUI Maynooth. He mentioned anecdotal evidence claiming that primary school teachers could predict eventual secondary school educational outcomes from as early as six years of age …” (more)
[David Madden, The Irish Economy, 3 December]
“Sir, – The Feeder Schools 2014 supplement (November 27th) provided limited but welcome data on the present situation of education inequality. In providing progression rates per school to third-level education as a percentage of all students sitting the Leaving Cert, the figures shed light on the vast disparities by postcode which exist in Ireland …” (more)
[Mairead Healy, Irish Times, 29 November]
“Students from more wealthy backgrounds in Northern Ireland are around eight times more likely to have a degree than those from less privileged homes, according to a study …” (more)
[Belfast Telegraph, 31 October]
“Sir, – The entry into the debate on university entrance criteria in Ireland of the dean of admissions at Harvard University Dr William R Fitzsimmons (October 22nd) illustrates one of the fallacies that dog this debate. Harvard is a private institution with an endowment of more than $36 billion …” (more)
[Paddy O’Flynn, Irish Times, 24 October]
“Sir, – I was flabbergasted at the response from Dr William R Fitzsimmons (October 22nd) to the article ‘Students are guinea pigs in Trinity’s experiment’ (Education Opinion, October 14th). The so-called holistic system he speaks of is one that works in theory and may be successful in the United States. Unfortunately, this is Ireland …” (more)
[Gavin Lynch-Frahill, Irish Times, 23 October]
“Criticism of the points system as the sole basis for entry to third level education has grown in recent years as rote learning and special tuition courses became the norm and inherent weaknesses emerged … ” (more)
[Irish Times, 22 October]
“Could noting an applicant’s social background help institutions find unfulfilled potential, or is positive discrimination an insult to working class high-achievers? Four academics debate …” (more)
[Patrick Fullick and others, Guardian Professional, 21 October]
“Sir, – I welcome the letter from my distinguished colleague, Frank Bannister (October 15th). When a great university such as UCD declines to below 200 in the World Rankings we must say that enough is enough. Nor can we accept spin about Trinity itself in the ‘prestigious’ top 150 …” (more)
[Gerald Morgan, Irish Times, 17 October]
“There’s room for a shed load of clichés when it comes to defining what education is, not in a negative way, but it’s hard not to repeat the absolute value that education offers to both individuals and societies. In my job, I come across people who experience different levels and types of education advantage and, unfortunately, disadvantage …” (more)
[Education Is …, 25 September]
“The Department are working with the HEA in the development of a new National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education for 2014-2017. The HEA is co-ordinating work on the development of the plan and now seeks submissions from all interested parties in framing the strategies, actions and targets for the next National Access Plan. The consultation process is open and submissions are requested by 30th September …” (more)
[Department of Education and Skills, 17 September]
“The president of Limerick Institute of Technology has welcomed Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan’s stated ambition to see more third level places allocated to students from disadvantaged backgrounds …” (more)
[Mike Dwane, Limerick Leader, 4 September]
“There’s something about Dublin 6. Don’t you think? For years, I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. It was a strange sensation. What was it? Was it the solid redbricks, the good taste, the drop-in Pilates classes, the sensitively old Volvos, or maybe the Gonzaga waiting list? …” (more)
[David McWilliams, 25 August]
“As the drama of the CAO third-level places unfolded this week, I thought about what Burmese pro-democracy advocate, Aung San Suu Kyi, said in Strasbourg last year when accepting a prize for promoting freedom of thought: ‘I’ve always said there’s no hope without endeavour …'” (more)
[Niamh Hourigan, Irish Examiner, 23 August]
“Learning, ideally, is its own reward. In practice, though, the education young people gain in secondary school is translated annually into a numerical value. ‘How many points did you get?’ is the question school-leavers were asked this week as the Central Applications Office (CAO) began making offers for college places …” (more)
[Irish Times, 21 August]
“Following a report by the Higher Education Authority showing a big gap in students from different backgrounds accessing third-level education, Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan said her main objective as minister is to open up higher education to students from disadvantaged backgrounds …” (more)
[Jimmy Woulfe, Irish Examiner, 21 August]
“Speaking following the publication of figures by the Higher Education Authority regarding the progression of young people from disadvantaged areas to higher education, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Education Jonathan O’Brien TD said …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 20 August]
