Education in Ireland: A Comparison of the Education Systems in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Author(s): Dominic Murray, Alan Smith and Ursula Birthistle
Document Type: Report
Year: 1997
Publisher: Irish Peace Institute Research Centre, University of Limerick
Place of Publication: Limerick
Subject Area(s): Education, Community Relations, NI Conflict
Client Group(s) : Children, Students, Young People

Abbreviations: NI - Northern Ireland, CMS - Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, ELB - Education and Library Boards, DENI - Department of Education for Northern Ireland, DOE - Department of Education (Republic), GCSE - General Certificate of Secondary Education, GCE - General Certificate of Education, OECD - Orgnisation for Economic Co-operation & Development, LMS - Local Management of Schools, NCVA - National Council for Vocational Awards, NICIE - Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education, NIHEC - Northern Ireland Higher Education Council

Background to the Research

  • Education offers an important means through which mutual understanding and co-operation between the two parts of Ireland can be increased. Yet there is little sharing of knowledge at a teacher and pupil level between the two parts of Ireland. This report seeks to provide comprehensive descriptions of the structure and practice of education in the two regions, to outline the nature and extent of current contact and co-operation between the two, and to recommend research and strategies that could facilitate mutual understanding.

Research Approach

  • The authors examined official data and analysed research into the structure and workings of the education systems in both NI and the Republic of Ireland.

Main Findings

The Republic

  • The total expenditure on education in the Republic of Ireland in 1993 was 1.7 billion (almost 20% of Government expenditure and 6% of Gross Domestic Product).
  • Spending per pupil in the Republic is relatively low; the primary sector receives around 50% of the OECD average, and the secondary sector over 50% of the OECD average. The third-level sector was well funded by European standards.

Northern Ireland

  • During 1993-94, the education budget in NI was around £1.23 billion. Expenditure per pupil is highest at third-level and lowest at primary level. There are two main methods of funding, the ELBs and the delegation of financial responsibility to the Boards of Governors of individual schools through the LMS.

North-South Comparisons

  • Research comparing six schools in Limerick and Derry in 1994 showed that primary schools in the Republic are under-funded and under-resourced in comparison to those in the North. It also showed higher pupil:teacher ratios and poorer promotional prospects for teachers in the schools in the Republic.

Administration

  • DENI has overall responsibility for education in NI, but many of its functions are devolved to the ELBs. Since the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989 there has been further devolution of responsibilities to the Boards of Governors of individual schools.
  • The DOE has a more centralised role in the Republic, although the 1997 Education Bill aims to devolve administrative responsibilities to 10 new Regional Boards and to schools, leaving the department with responsibility for policy and strategic planning, resource allocation, curricular planning and monitoring standards.
  • Both regions have Curriculum Councils which advise their education department on all curricular matters.
  • The role of the Inspectorate in both regions has been different, in the Republic the Inspectorate is responsible for the examination system, including the setting of papers, in the North the Inspectorate advises and evaluates education at all levels except universities.
  • In both regions, universities are autonomous bodies funded by the respective Departments of Education, in the case of the North, through the NIHEC and in the Republic, the HEA.

Special Interest Bodies

Northern Ireland

  • The CCMS is a co-ordinating body for all Catholic maintained schools. It consults with, and advises, DENI and the ELBs on all matters relating to Catholic maintained schools and employs its own teachers. The Council has 36 members drawn from the clergy, DENI, parents and teachers who each serve 4-year terms of office.
  • NICIE was established in 1989 as a co-ordinating body for integrated schools and receives funding from DENI. The NICIE Board of Directors consists of 12 representatives.
  • Irish Medium schools are linked to The Council for All-Irish Education founded in 1991, this body negotiates with DENI on matters relating to Irish medium schools and helps in the establishment of new schools.

The Republic

  • Currently, there is only one intermediate body called the Vocational Education Committee with responsibilities similar to the ELBs in the North.

The Structure of Schooling

  • The system in NI is segregated by religion. Most pupils attend predominantly Protestant (Controlled) schools or Catholic (Maintained) schools. Selection at age 11 segregates children according to academic ability, with around one-third of children in second level education attending Grammar schools.
  • Children attend primary school from ages 4-11 years and secondary school provision is in either intermediate schools for 11-16 year olds - with some provision for 16-18 year olds or grammar schools which take pupils up to 18 years. Statutory education ends at 16 but education is free for those who continue to age 18. At 16 years pupils sit GCSEs and at 18 years GCE A Levels.

Types of Schools in Northern Ireland

  • Controlled Schools - when the State was set up in 1921 the main Protestant Churches transferred their schools to the State. They are managed by Boards of Governors under the auspices of the ELBs and are 100% funded by the ELBs under the LMS Scheme.
  • Voluntary Maintained Schools - when the State was established in 1921 the Catholic Church retained ownership of its schools. These are 100% funded by the ELBs under the LMS Scheme.
  • Voluntary Grammar Schools - in 1993 there were 52 Grammar schools, of which 31 are Catholic voluntary Grammar schools. All Voluntary Grammar schools receive 100% direct grant for running costs and between 85-100% capital costs.
  • Integrated Schools - since 1981 a small but growing number of integrated primary and secondary schools have been established (31 were in existence in 1996). They can receive 100% recurrent funding direct from DENI, capital costs are only paid when the school proves its viability (often up to three years later).
  • Irish Medium Schools - there are 8 Primary and 2 Secondary schools in which the teaching and learning is in Irish. From 1995, the Primary schools are fully funded by government and one of the Secondary schools receives partial funding.
  • Independent Schools - there are 21 independent schools and they receive no public funding.

Pre-school Education

  • State provision in the North includes 89 Nursery schools. Alongside these schools, reception classes in Primary schools cater for 70% of all 4 year olds. Launching grants and partial funding are available from the ELBs.

Types of Schools in the Republic

  • Historically, the Catholic Church has played a central role in the management of education. Statutory schooling age is between 6-15 years. Primary schools are almost exclusively National schools, which are State-aided parish schools established under diocesan patronage.
  • Since 1975, most schools have Boards of Management which employ teachers and pay salaries, and recurrent costs are funded by the DOE. Schools are required to raise a contribution equal to at least 25% of the capital grant. Funding for the site is paid for by the local community through the Patron and the DOE pays 85% of building and furnishing costs.
  • Gaelscoileanna - Irish Language Schools - are set up by parents who own the school through a limited company. The DOE will pay teacher salaries and capitation grants - when the school demonstrates itself as viable (this takes between 3-5 years).
  • Multi-denominational Schools - at Primary level there are 14 such schools which have been established in a similar way to the integrated schools in the North. These schools are funded as National schools, 25% of recurring costs must be met locally.
  • Entry into second level education is at age 12 years, there is a three-year Junior cycle leading to the Junior Certificate at 15 years (7-8 subjects are taken). A Senior cycle follows which may be two to three years long and 5-7 subjects are taken for the Leaving Certificate.
  • Secondary schools - these are privately owned and managed, mainly by religious authorities and Boards of Governors. The DOE pays 90% of approved building costs, 100% of teachers salaries and equipment, and recurrent costs are met through a flat-rate capitation grant per student.
  • Vocational Schools - these are administered by VECs which are elected by the local authority of the area in which they are located. They are 90% funded by the DOE and 10% by the VECs.
  • Comprehensive Schools - there are 16 of these schools, they are administered by Boards of Management which include representatives of the VEC and the DOE. They receive 100% funding from the DOE.
  • Community Schools - these schools are similar to the Comprehensives, but involve greater participation of local community interests. They receive 100% funding from the DOE.

Pre-school Education

  • State provision in the Republic comes in the form of infant classes in Primary school, which are regarded as pre-school education and cater for 95% of all 5-6 year olds at senior infants level and 59% of 4-5 year olds at junior infants level. Private and voluntary provision includes privately funded nursery schools.

Further Education

  • In NI there are 24 Colleges of Further Education offering vocational and technological education. There is no equivalent to Colleges of Further Education in the Republic, although a 5-level framework for vocational qualifications certificated by the NCVA has recently be introduced, alongside a range of Post Leaving Certificate courses.
  • In NI there are around 20,000 full-time students at undergraduate level attending the two main universities; Queens University Belfast and the University of Ulster. In the Republic the National University of Ireland operates through three constituent colleges; University College Cork, University College Galway and University College Dublin, the other universities are the University of Dublin (Trinity), Dublin City University and the University of Limerick. In 1993-94 enrolment in the university sector was 51,000.

Curriculum

  • In NI the 12 years of compulsory education are divided into 'Key Stages'. Within Key Stages 1 and 2 (ages 4-11) the curriculum consists of Religious Education, English, Maths, Science, Environment & Society and Creative & Expressive Studies. There are also 4 cross-curricular themes; Education for Mutual Understanding, Cultural Heritage, Health Education & Information Technology. Within Key Stage 3 (age 11-14) and Key Stage 4 (15-16) the areas of study are the same as Key Stage 1 and 2 with the addition of Technology & Design and Language Studies. The Key Stage 1 and 2 cross-curricular themes are supplemented by Economic Awareness and Careers Education.
  • In the Republic, the Primary school curriculum is composed of Religious Education, Language (Irish & English), Maths, Social & Environmental Studies, Art & Craft Activities, Music and Physical Education. In the Junior Cycle Irish, English, Maths, History and Geography and not less than two other subjects from the approved list of examination subjects and Civics must be studied. In the Senior Cycle, pupils must select 5 subjects from a prescribed list of subjects (one of which must be Irish) which are offered at Ordinary and Higher Level.

Recommendations

  • The organising principles of schooling are different in each region, in the North religion and selection at 11 dominate the system. In the Republic schools are distinguished by their emphasis on academic, vocational or technical education. › The recently established Standing Conference on North-South Co-operation in Further and Higher Education links universities, the Northern Institutions for Further and Higher Education and the Southern Regional Technical Colleges with the aim of promoting and facilitating cross-border projects.
  • At Primary and Secondary level, links are more difficult to establish because of the different structures in both regions. However, individual schools participate in exchange schemes and there is collaboration between the Departments of Education and curriculum bodies in both regions.
  • Neither Education for Mutual Understanding in the North nor Civic, Social and Political Education in the Republic address issues about North/South relationships, a programme in this area involving schools in both regions would be useful. Research concerning young people's perceptions of each other at a cross border level would also be useful.
 

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