Lack of interest ‘a key factor’ in low third-level attendance

Lack of interest may be a bigger factor than financial barriers in low third-level attendance in some areas, a study on college awareness suggests.

Less than one-in-six people aged 18 to 20 from Dublin 10 and Dublin 17 go on to third-level according to research published in August by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), compared to a 51% national average.

A study published yesterday at the opening of College Awareness Week asked people in those areas about the main reasons for not progressing into further studies after school. Similar to national figures in a wider survey, wanting to get a job was the biggest factor for almost half who did not go to college.