Borderwise Booklets
Issue 1
10th February 2008
Going South – Education
©
NIACAB (Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux)
This information
sheet aims to provide a general overview of the education system in the
Republic of Ireland (ROI).
Going South – Education
Introduction
The Department of
Education and Science is responsible for education in Ireland. At present education is compulsory for
children from age six to sixteen. The education system is made up of primary,
second, third-level and further education. While the vast majority of
schools are State funded some private schools also exist.
Early
childcare programmes
At present there
is very little provision for pre-school children in Ireland. The Government has
only implemented pilot schemes and these have tended to focus on children with
disabilities or those from socially deprived backgrounds. Schemes may be
available in local areas. Pre-school education is
usually provided by privately funded child-care facilities or providers. For further information contact:
Centre for Early
Childhood Development and Education
St. Patrick's College
Drumcondra
Dublin 9
Tel: +353
(0)1 8842110
Website: www.cecde.ie/
First Level
Education
First level
schools are known as National/Primary Schools. Although children are not
obliged to attend school until the age of six, most four and five-year-olds are
enrolled in primary schools. There are no formal exams at the end of first
level education.
Second Level
Education
There are four
types of schools in second level education. These are secondary, vocational,
comprehensive and community schools. The origins and management of each type of
school differ, but they all provide a common compulsory curriculum and a broad
range of academic and vocational subjects. Children generally begin Secondary
school aged twelve and usually sit their Junior Certificate after three years.
Transition
Year
A transition year
usually follows the Junior Certificate examination. Although optional around
75% of schools participate in the scheme. This year is free from formal examinations
and allows students to experience a wide range of educational inputs, including
work experience. It is generally regarded as an opportunity for students to
develop the skills necessary to move from the dependant learning of their
junior years to the more independent learning required for the final three
years at secondary school.
The Leaving
Certificate
The Leaving
Certificate examination is held at the end of the senior cycle in second-level
schools when students are usually 17/18 years old. It is the terminal
examination of second-level education and is the basis for entry into higher
education and training.
Third Level
Education
Third level
education is made up of a number of sectors:
There are seven
universities and they are autonomous and self-governing. They offer degree
programmes at bachelor, masters and doctorate level.
The technological
sector includes institutes of technology which provide programmes of education
and training in areas such as business, science, engineering, linguistics and
music to certificate, diploma and degree levels. The Department of Education
and Science has overall responsibility for the sector.
There are five colleges of education
which specialise in training for primary teachers. They offer a
three-year bachelor of education degree and an 18-month post-graduate diploma.
Fees
Most undergraduate
students attending publicly funded third-level courses do not have to pay fees.
In order to qualify for free fees:
- You must be an EU
national or have official refugee status and
- You must have been
living in the EU (this includes any of the accession states) for at least
3 of the 5 years before starting your course and
- You must be
undertaking a full-time undergraduate course of at least 2 years duration
and
- You must not have
a previous qualification to the same level (Students who hold a National
Certificate or Diploma and are progressing to degree courses may be
eligible) and
- You must not be
repeating the year (although this exclusion may be waived where a student
has to repeat a year due to certified serious illness)
Registration Fee
There is an annual
student services charge that all students are required to pay. The fee covers
student services and examinations and the amount charges vary between
institutions.
Students from Northern Ireland
As
European nationals students from N. Ireland accepted on third level courses in
ROI will generally have their course fees paid by the Department of Education
and Science. In terms of their living costs these students can apply to their
local Education and Library Board in N. Ireland for a student grant and/or loan
toward maintenance in the same way as they would if they had applied to a UK
College or University.
Student Support
Schemes
In Ireland there are four main student support schemes for students intending to go on to third-level
education. These schemes include the:
- Higher Education
Grants Scheme
- Vocational
Education Committees' Scholarship Scheme
- Third Level
Maintenance Grants Scheme for Trainees
- Maintenance Grants
Scheme for Students Attending Post Leaving Certificate Courses
In order to be
eligible for student support schemes students will have to meet a set or
criteria and be enrolled in an approved course. Please note that Student Support Schemes' are not generally
available to NI students. For
further information visit: www.studentfinance.ie
How do I apply
for higher education courses in ROI?
Students should apply for full-time undergraduate courses at Irish
universities/ higher education institutions through the Central Application
Office (CAO). The CAO provides an applications pack with a handbook which lists
all the courses on offer and gives information on how to apply. For further
information contact:
Central Applications Office
Tower House
Eglington Street
Galway
Tel: +353 91 509800
Website: http://www.cao.ie
Further and
Adult Education
Further education
comprises education and training which takes place after second level
schooling but which is not part of the third level system. It includes literacy
and basic education courses and provides the opportunity for those who have
completed secondary education to develop vocational and training skills. The
following schemes are also available for those wanting to return to education.
Returning to
education
Vocational
Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
The VTOS scheme is
designed to equip people with the necessary skills to find employment. It is
available to anyone over the age of 21 who is unemployed and has been receiving
Social Welfare payments for at least six months. A wide range of subjects are
available ranging from basic education through to vocational training. Further
information is available from the website: www.vtos.ie
Youthreach
If you are aged
between 15 and 20 years of age and have left school without any formal
qualifications, the Youthreach programme
can provide opportunities for basic education, personal development, vocational
training and work experience. Further information can be found by visiting the
website at www.youthreach.ie
Back to education
allowance
If you are
unemployed, a single parent or have a disability, you may be able to enroll on
approved second-or third-level education courses through the Back to Education
Allowance scheme. Participants in the scheme receive a payment that is not
means tested. To qualify for the back to education allowance you must be at
least 21 and have been receiving Social welfare payments for at least six
months for entry into second level education courses, and 12 months if you wish
to enroll on a third level course. For further information contact your local
Social Welfare Office.
For Further
Information
Department of
Education and Science
Marlborough
Street
DUBLIN 1
Tel: +353 1
8896400
Fax: +353 1 872
9553
Web:
http://www.education.ie