Ambition running high among students in RTI

Seán McCárthaigh,

But the situation has changed hrough initiatives to tackle the inequality of access to third-level colleges for people from poorer backgrounds.

And today, the ambitions of RTI students like 18-year-old Audrey Kenny, 18, from Ringsend match those of everyone else Sadly, Audrey did not obtain sufficient marks in her results yesterday to pursue a career as a French teacher, although she got five honours grades in ordinary level papers.

“I’m a bit disappointed. I know I’ll have to go back to repeat,” she said, Her friend, Gerard Maher, 20, from Clontarf, who returned to school last year to sit his exams for the first time.

It’s pretty much what I expected,” said Gerard on passing four of the six subjects. He hopes his points earn him a place on a Post-Leaving Course in journalism and film production.

The positive attitude among students about the variety of career options open to them is one of the main points the RTI attempts to instil in its pupils.

“Access programmes which provide students places in college is a major incentive for students to do well in exams,” said RTI deputy principal Con Harvey.