Education in the Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland's education system is quite similar to that of most other western countries. There are three distinct levels of education in Ireland: primary, secondary and higher (often known as third-level) education. In recent years further education has grown immensely. Growth in the economy since the 1960s has driven much of the change in the education system.

Ireland now has the best education systems in the world. Class sizes are small, exam results are good and most children are happy to stay at school after the minimum leaving age of sixteen. It is easy to forget that the picture used to be very different.

All children must receive compulsory education between the ages of six and fifteen years in Ireland. For years, Ireland had one of the most complicated education system in the world. There are many different kinds of schools, but most of them had a lot of common. Primary education is generally completed at a gaelscoil (are a very recent innovation, started only late in the last century. The Irish language is the working language in these schools. They are particularly en vogue in non-Irish speaking areas.), multidenominational school (are another recent innovation. They are generally under the patronage of a limited company without share capital. They are often opened due to parental demand and all are welcome), or national school (date back to the introduction of state primary education in the mid-19th century. They are usually controlled by of a board of management under diocesan patronage and often include a local clergyman. The term national school has of late become partly synonymous with primary school in some parts). Some Multidenominational schools and gaelscoileanna are actually national schools themselves. As is characteristic of much of the rest of education system, the parent has great choice in choosing the type of school appropriate for the child. Classes were large and the teaching was very traditional. As in many countries, teachers used to hit the children if they made mistake (the government banned corporal punishment in 1982).

Parents used to pay for their children`s education and, as a result, there were schools for the rich and schools for the poor. Boys and girls went to different schools and studied different subjects. Nowadays, most schools are free and only about half the schools are single-sex. In many ways, education is now a woman`s world. Girls do better than boys in their exams, more girls go to university and most teachers are women.

At the end of secondary school, students take their final exam (the “Leaving Certificate”). Compulsory subjects are maths, history, Irish and a foreign language. In addition, they must choose two or three extra subjects. Some of these, like Business Organization, help to prepare them for the world of work. This is very different from the past when Latin, Greek and Religion used to be the most important subjects.

Most students attend and complete secondary education, with approximately eighty percent of school-leavers taking the terminal examination, the Leaving Certificate. Secondary education is generally completed at a community school, a comprehensive school, a vocational school or a voluntary secondary school. There is great freedom in choosing the type of school the child will attend. The Junior Cycle builds on the education received at primary level and culminates with the Junior Certificate Examination. The Junior Certificate Examination is taken after three years of study and not before fourteen years of age. The Transition Year is a one-year informal course which is taken by an increasing number of students. The content of this is left to the school to model on the local needs often focusing on work placement and related projects. The Senior Cycle builds on the junior cycle and culminates with the Leaving Certificate Examination. The Leaving Certificate Examination is taken after at least two years of study after the Junior Certificate Examination.

Higher (or third-level) education awards in Ireland are conferred by Dublin City University, Dublin Institute of Technology, Higher Education and Training Awards Council, National University of Ireland, University of Dublin and University of Limerick. These are the degree-awarding authorities approved by the Irish Government and can grant awards at all academic levels. The Pontifical University of Maynooth is essentially a private university established by the Roman Catholic Church - there is no requirement in the law of Ireland to recognise its degrees. In contrast to practice in the rest of the education system, entry tends to be highly competitive for school leavers; the so called "Points Race". Some colleges are constituent or linked colleges of universities, whilst others are designated institutions of the Higher Education and Training Awards Council. The latter include the Institutes of Technology, Colleges of Education, and other independent colleges. Some colleges have delegated authority from the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, this allowes them to confer and validate awards in their own name.

Further Education was for many years the "poor relation" of education. There were many different, often poorly defined, awards offered by a multitude of bodies, both ad-hoc and statutory. Typical areas included apprenticeships, childcare, farming, retail, and tourism. These are typically areas of the economy that do not depend on multinational investment and recognition.

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