Writing in an Opinion piece in today's Irish Times, Pat O’Mahony (Education and Research Officer at Education and Training Boards Ireland), tells us that over "the past 50 years, we have become obsessed with the idea that third-level education is the way to achieve our economic destiny". According to figures he quotes "the numbers going to college have ballooned from 11 per cent in 1965 to 69 per cent in 2011. Ireland now has the highest proportion of young people with third-level qualifications across the EU". Impressive stuff I think you'll agree. However, Pat also quotes recent research by the HEA that one in six of our third-level students drop out after first year. The EBTs (I had never head of this group before today) were set up in 2013 and provide education for programmes like Youthreach and Skills for Work - essentially non-third level training programmes. Pat (in the Irish Times article) suggests that more emphasis be placed on apprenticeships. Pat is right in suggesting that more students should consider apprenticeships, but my sense is students should not pigeon-hole themselves in any particular area.
College is for everyone.
There - I said it!
College is no longer for the elite that it once was - it is open to all and should remain so. So what if one in six drop out after first year - the more that go to College, the higher this figure is going to be. This opportunity should be available to all school leavers, and those coming back to education. Access to education is a human right, it is a European right, it is an Irish right.
No exceptions.
If we put barriers in the path to education, we are not doing the right thing by our students. Pat O'Mahony is well meaning is his thoughts - specifically "would it not be better if, on leaving school, these young people entered employment through an apprenticeship". But please - do not ever deprive students of an opportunity to go direct to third-level (in fairness - O'Mahony suggests that apprenticeships could be followed by College).
Keep the paths to College open. If a student does not succeed - they have learned by the experience and may want to try again. I myself failed second year in Trinity, and thanks to my Dad - was encouraged to try again.
The National College of Ireland (where I work) has a mission: "To Change Lives Through Education". We mean it. College is for everyone.
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| A Carnew boy gets a PhD! (With my Dad - 14th July, 1988) |
There - I said it!
College is no longer for the elite that it once was - it is open to all and should remain so. So what if one in six drop out after first year - the more that go to College, the higher this figure is going to be. This opportunity should be available to all school leavers, and those coming back to education. Access to education is a human right, it is a European right, it is an Irish right.
No exceptions.
If we put barriers in the path to education, we are not doing the right thing by our students. Pat O'Mahony is well meaning is his thoughts - specifically "would it not be better if, on leaving school, these young people entered employment through an apprenticeship". But please - do not ever deprive students of an opportunity to go direct to third-level (in fairness - O'Mahony suggests that apprenticeships could be followed by College).
Keep the paths to College open. If a student does not succeed - they have learned by the experience and may want to try again. I myself failed second year in Trinity, and thanks to my Dad - was encouraged to try again.
The National College of Ireland (where I work) has a mission: "To Change Lives Through Education". We mean it. College is for everyone.
What is a college education? Is it full-time education beyond secondary and thus different from an apprentice work-based learning experience? Is it a broadening of the mind from being exposed to philosophical ideas on the nature of our existence and the human condition (And thus excluding many technical courses like my degree in engineering)? Or is it just harder courses that less academic students would not be able for (thus excluding a significant portion of the population)? I think we need to define what a college education is. Studying an apprenticeship does not exclude you from higher education.
ReplyDeleteBrian
Hi Brian,
DeleteAgreed.
I know a lot of work is done by Careers Advisers in secondary schools to help our students choose what to do after school, but are they always right? Less than half of my classmates in 1977 went on to College, now they all do from the same school. What has changed? Perhaps not the desire to go to College, but that there are College places to be filled with slick Marketing Departments doing their best to attract you to their campus.
I'd like to think that College is about all that you say above - the key for me is (as you say) "broadening of the mind".
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Eugene
Hi Brian,
DeleteAgreed.
I know a lot of work is done by Careers Advisers in secondary schools to help our students choose what to do after school, but are they always right? Less than half of my classmates in 1977 went on to College, now they all do from the same school. What has changed? Perhaps not the desire to go to College, but that there are College places to be filled with slick Marketing Departments doing their best to attract you to their campus.
I'd like to think that College is about all that you say above - the key for me is (as you say) "broadening of the mind".
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Eugene