Third level colleges - Education initiative to be welcomed

THE Celtic Tiger economy that we enjoy has developed largely as a result of educational reforms first outlined in the famous Development Plan of the late 1950s.

It recognised the need for a broader education, which was enhanced by the ‘free” secondary education announced by Donogh O’Malley in 1966.

Yesterday the Government announced equally momentous plans to revamp our third-level colleges in order to enhance the country’s competitive position in the global economy.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced 35 major construction projects for engineering, IT, science, technology, tourism and the arts.

The exchequer will fund 18 of the projects at a cost of €395m, while the other 17 projects will be funded as part of the Public Private Partnership Programme.

The overall cost of these plans will be €900m.

The Strategic Innovation Fund will support radical change to improve the performance in third-level institutions by encouraging co-operation between them, according to Ms Hanafin.

These planned advances will be a fundamental part of the fourth-level development programme announced in the recent Budget. The fourth-level system of research is aimed at driving our future economic growth.

The Government’s educational initiative is warmly welcomed as a timely and necessary investment not only in the youth of today, but also in the economic future of the country.