Urgent action needed to improve third-level access

Figures relating to extremely poor rates of third level progression among students from schools in less affluent areas highlight the need for immediate action by government.

The long-term social and economic costs continuing inaction would bring are unfathomable. As a project worker with the School Completion Programme (SCP) in the southside of Cork city, we aim to ensure students in Deis areas transfer from national school, complete second level and move on to further education or work opportunities.

If Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan is serious about resolving this imbalance in society, she should start by reversing the year-on-year 6.5% funding cuts to SCPs across the country. Instead of such cuts over the last four years, the SCP scheme should be expanded and staffed to work also on second-level transfer to third-level.

Access programmes such as those operated in UCC and CIT are superbly run for this very purpose and need to be rolled out further. As someone who came through public schooling in a DEIS area, receiving grants to attend third level, I know the value of education. A lack of affluence should never be a stumbling block for boys and girls to realise their potential. I know that the CEOs, brain surgeons and a whole range of other successful individuals who lived near me, and who attended the same Christian Brothers school, would agree.

Cllr Mick Finn PC, (IND)

Cork City South Central

6 Annmount,

Friars Walk,

Cork