The HEA have issued an alarming report on the figures of Leaving Cert students who go on to college based on which area they come from. Highlighting the huge gap in participation and progression to third level happening between the rich and poor.

The report found that 99% of students residing in Dublin 6 areas, including Ranelagh and Rathmines, participated in third level learning. While figures for students from areas in Dublin 10 and 17, such Dardale, Coolock and Ballyfermot, were as low as 15%.

According to the report, the lowest areas of progression to third level after Dublin 10, 17 were also Dublin post codes, including Dublin 1 (28%), Dublin 8 (33%) and Dublin 24 (29%)

The purpose of the report was to show the figures for matures students, students with disabilities and highlight the disparities of students between different socio-economic areas. The report hopes to raise awareness and question the inequalities found, and generate ideas to promote more equity among these different groups.

The paper proposes setting a target of raising each rate by 5 per cent by 2017.

While acknowledging that much progress has been made in recent years to raise the levels or participation along all groups, Mr. Tom Boland, CEO of the HEA said

“An uncomfortable and sobering fact is that deep reservoirs of educational disadvantage, mirroring in large part economic disadvantage, are also part of the Irish higher education story. Equity of access is a human right and there is a new imperative - Ireland needs more people with higher level skills and many of the more affluent groups in Ireland already have participation levels at, or close to, saturation. We need urgently to tap into these deep reservoirs of disadvantage – for the good of the individuals concerned and for sound economic reasons.”

For the last 8 years schooldays.ie website has been providing progession data on each individual secondary school across Ireland. Please click here to find information on your secondary school.

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