20% of students ‘unprepared’ for life

Secondary schools are not preparing many young people to develop into self-confident, well-balanced adults who can think for themselves, they have told researchers.

More than 90% of 17- and 18-year-olds believe second-level prepares them well with literacy skills and to find things out for themselves. But one in four do not believe it prepares them for the world of work.

The findings are based on interviews over the last year with more than 6,200 families, who were among those taking part since 2007 in the Government-funded Growing Up in Ireland study.