We must still address disparities in access to higher education

The success of many schools in helping most of their students get a place in third-level institutions is highlighted in today’s Feeder Schools supplement inside today’s Irish Examiner.

But like a recent Higher Education Authority (HEA) report, it also provides an insight into the imbalances in Irish education. That study last August showed wide disparities between counties, and between different postcode areas of Dublin when it comes to the proportion of school-leavers going to college.

Whereas just 41% of young people from Laois and Donegal go on to higher education (although more from the Ulster county may be attending Northern Ireland colleges), the figure is as high as 60% for counties Galway, Leitrim and Mayo.