Background to the Research

• This chapter uses data from the 1995 Northern Ireland Social Attitudes Survey.
  
  
• 744 respondents aged 18+ were interviewed.
  
  
• The chapter compares attitudes to educational issues in Northern Ireland with those in Britain.
  
  
• Two themes are discussed:
  • Primary and secondary schools, which have been affected by radical reforms since the late 1980s.
  • Attitudes to higher education, especially in relation to the increase in participation rates.

Main Findings

Primary and secondary schools

• Three quarters of respondents would advise an 11 year old to attend a mixed sex school, the main reason being that boys and girls should learn to mix together. This mirrors the attitudes in GB, although NI has a higher level of single sex schools.
  
  
• For NI respondents the main priority for extra spending was less able pupils with special needs (31%), but in GB the priority was secondary and grammar school children (32%). A higher proportion of respondents in GB identified nursery and pre school children as a priority, although NI has relatively less provision of nursery places.
  
  
• Few respondents showed support for the strategic approaches adopted for education reform, for example, more emphasis on outputs (e.g. exams) and the provision of information on individual schools:
  
  
  • The majority of respondents in NI (68%) and GB (57%) felt that smaller class sizes would be either their first or second measure for best improving primary education. Others included more resources for schools (NI: 38%; GB: 46%) followed by more emphasis on developing children's skills and interests (NI and GB: 37%). Only a few identified more emphasis on exams and tests.
    
    
  • The most or next most useful things for improving secondary and grammar education were seen to be resources for buildings, books and equipment (NI: 40%; GB: 38%), more training and preparation for jobs (NI: 33%; GB: 36%), smaller class sizes (NI: 34%; GB: 35%), and more emphasis on developing children's skills and interests (NI: 36%; GB: 30%). Increased emphasis on examinations and tests, and more information on individual schools were bottom of the list of priorities.
    
    
• Only 6% of respondents in NI and 12% in GB would advise a 16 year old to leave school and get training via a job, and few would advise studying full time to get vocational qualifications. This reflects the lower status of vocational qualifications in UK than elsewhere. 63% in NI and 53% in GB would endorse staying in full time education to get A levels.
  
  
• NI (41%) is slightly more likely than GB (32%) to say that academic results give more opportunities and choice in life than good practical skills or training.
  
  
• The school system is viewed in a generally more positive light in NI than in GB:
  
  
  • 84% of respondents in NI and 60% in GB think secondary and grammar schools teach basic skills well.
  • 62% of respondents in NI and 40% in GB think secondary and grammar schools prepare young people for work.
  • 67% of respondents in NI and 38% in GB think that school leavers are better qualified than 10 years ago.
  • 37% of respondents in NI and 18% in GB think that the standard of teaching is better than 10 years ago.
  • Over 75% of respondents in NI and GB think that classroom behaviour is worse than 10 years ago. In NI this is despite the perception that schools are doing more for pupils, while in GB this is part of a general malaise in perceptions of schools and education.

Higher education

• There is a wide level of agreement between NI and GB on issues of higher education:
  
  
  • Approximately half the respondents thought that current levels of participation are about right.
  • The majority in NI (60%) and in GB (58%) thought that universities should develop skills and knowledge for a good job and the knowledge to equip them for life in general (NI: 55%; GB: 52%). However, there is a mismatch between what should and what is done.
  • The vast majority in NI (92%) and in GB (83%) said that the standard of qualifications on leaving university and the standard of teaching (NI: 90%; GB: 81%) is the same or better than 10 years ago, with NI being slightly more positive.
  • 70% in NI and 72% in GB agreed that job prospects for students now are worse than 10 years ago.
  • While 1 in 10 felt that it is essential to have information on the number of first class degrees, 1 in 4 wanted information on the number of students getting jobs.
    
    
• In contrast to policy reforms, respondents were generally opposed to changes in student income:
  • Only 15% in NI and 24% in GB say that students should contribute to the cost of university fees.
  • Only 18% in NI and 26% in GB say that students should be expected to take out loans.
  • However, 41% in NI and 30% in GB say that all students should get a grant for living expenses.
  • Despite these views, the needs of students in universities and colleges were not perceived as high priority for additional spending when set alongside other educational needs.