Target resources towards breaking poverty cycle

PROFESSOR Áine Hyland’s analysis of the school league tables for 2011 reveals that the worry of UCC president, Dr Michael Murphy that there was “extensive anecdotal evidence” that many of the brightest and best Leaving Certificate students are leaving Ireland without returning, is without foundation.

It was this concern that led Dr Murphy to suggest that there is a need to rebalance resources towards the most talented students. While I disagree with Dr Murphy’s views he has started an interesting discussion about the role of higher education institutions and who should benefit from access to them.

From my perspective I am proud of the fact that four out of every five of the students at Dundalk Institute of Technology are the first generation in their families to access higher education. This will result in economic and social advantages to them, their families (including future generations) and their communities. For many of these families the fact that their offspring can access higher education breaks a cycle of poverty that has been within the family for generations.