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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