Ireland Education system

Education system in Ireland is divided into three levels:

• Primary Education
• Secondary Education
• Tertiary Education

Primary Education

It is for 1-8 years.

Secondary Education

It consists of junior cycle (Years 1-3); Transition (Year 4); and Senior cycle (Years 5-6).

Tertiary Education

It consists of Universities, Colleges of technology, colleges of education and independent colleges.

Universities

Primary Degrees  |  Postgraduate Degrees   |  Postgraduate Diplomas

Colleges of Technology

National Certificate  |  National Diploma  |  Primary Degree   |  Postgraduate Degree

Colleges of Education

Primary Degree  |  Postgraduate Degree

Independent Colleges

Diploma  |  Primary Degree  |  Postgraduate Degree  |  Professional Qualifications

Primary School Education

Though the statutory age for primary school entry is six years, majority of the children start at four. A period of eight years is covered by this first level education. Primary schools in Ireland are not State schools.

The present primary school curriculum is child centered rather and allows for flexibility in timetabling and teaching methods. English is the main language of instruction. The main subjects taught are English, Irish Mathematics, Social & Environmental Studies, Arts & Crafts, Music, Physical Education and Religious Instruction. No formal examinations are held at the end of the primary school cycle.

Second Level Education

There are no less than 800 second level schools in Ireland. Eighty of them offer boarding facilities. Generally the schools follow the curricula and syllabi laid down by the Ministry of Education. The Ministry sets and marks the examinations. But certain schools additionally offer preparation for the International Baccalaureate and the British A level examinations.

There are three types of second level school, mainly differentiated on the basis of administration and sources of funding

• Secondary Schools

  The secondary schools comprise the majority of second level schools in Ireland. They are owned and managed privately. They are heavily state funded and run by boards of governors, by religious bodies, or by individuals. The Irish students are not charged any fees.

• Community/Comprehensive Schools

  Community schools are comprehensive in nature. They combine academic and technical education and have a community dimension in terms of adult education and facilities. The Boards of Management representative of local interests administer them and the State funds them.

• Vocational Schools

  These schools are totally State owned and funded. The local education committees administer them. Their tradition is based on technical and vocational education but the recent years have seen their expansion and they incorporate a very wide subject mix. Other than providing second level education the vocational education system has also become increasingly involved in devising and implementing a range of continuing education and training services to post second level students.

Curriculum & Examinations

In addition to the core subjects of Irish, English and Mathematics, most schools have a wide range of subjects including Accountancy, Art, Biology, Business Organisation, Chemistry, Civics, Commerce, Computer Science, Economics, Geography, History, Home Economics, Languages, Mechanical Drawing, Music, Physical Education and Physics.

Age

The second level education in Ireland starts at the age of twelve, lasting for six years. All the students follow a common program for three years, which leads to the Junior Certificate examinations. These exams can be undertaken at three different ability levels. A transition year follows this where students follow a more flexible program. The duration of the senior cycle is two years ending with the Leaving Certificate examination.

Third Level Education

Post graduation system

The University sector, the technical and technological colleges and the colleges of education are included in the third level education. They are substantially funded by the State but are autonomous and self-governing.

Additionally a number of independent private colleges have also developed which offer a range of mainly business-related courses conferring professional qualifications. They might also confer degrees and diplomas. There are seven universities which are autonomous and self-governing and offer degree programs at bachelor, masters and doctorate level.

The technological sector includes institutes of technology which provide programs of education and training in areas such as business, science, engineering, linguistics and music to certificate, diploma and degree levels. The overall responsibility for the sector lies with the Department of Education and Science.

There are a total of five colleges of education. They specialize in training for first level teachers.

Further and adult education

Further education comprises education and training taking place after second level schooling but which is not a part of the third level system. It includes programs such as Post-Leaving Certificate courses; the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme; programs in Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training Centers for early school leavers; other literacy and basic education; and self-funded evening adult programs in second-level schools.

• Universities

  Universities in Ireland include the National University of Ireland, Trinity College, the University of Limerick and Dublin City University.

  The National University of Ireland (NUI) has a federal basis but the constituent colleges like University College Dublin, University College Cork and University College Galway are autonomous. Other recognized colleges of the NUI are: St Patrick's College Maynooth; the Royal College of Surgeons; and St Angela's College of Education for Home Economics.

  Apart from undertaking research in a wide range of disciplines, the universities and university colleges also offer degree programs at Bachelor, Masters and Doctorate level - in the humanities, in the scientific, technological and social sciences, and in the medical area.

  The Irish university system is in the British tradition. It has set programs leading to a bachelors’ degree at the end of three or four years. Master degrees are usually taken by coursework, research work or a combination of both. Research is the basis to award doctoral degrees.

  
  

• Colleges of Technology

  The biggest third level institution in Ireland is the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT). It has six constituent colleges - two Colleges of Technology, the College of Catering, the College of Marketing & Design, the College of Commerce and the College of Music. It awards its own degrees.

  
  

• Regional Technical Colleges

  Regional Technical Colleges (RTCs) were introduced in the 1970s for providing further technical educational needs. Over the years, they have become an integral part of the Irish third level system. There are eleven RTC's throughout Ireland. These offer education and training, both fulltime and partime, in certain areas like Business Studies, Engineering &Technology and Science & Para medicine.

  
  

• Specialist Colleges

  A number of specialist colleges offer programs which lead to Certificates, Diplomas and Degrees approved by the National Council for Education Awards (NCEA).

  
  

• Colleges of Education/Teacher Training

  There is a difference between the primary and second level school teachers, in the system of teacher training in Ireland. Usually the second level teachers complete a primary degree at university and then follow up with the Higher Diploma in Education at university. A three year program, leading to a Bachelor's degree in Education (B.Ed.) is completed by the primary school teachers, at one of the five teacher training colleges.

  
  

• Medicine

  Apart from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, the Medical Schools in University College Dublin, University College Cork, University College Galway and Trinity College are also famed for imparting prestigious education.

  
  

• Law

  The Irish legal system is part of the Common Law tradition. It is relevant to the legal training needs of many countries. Most of the Universities have excellent law faculties. There are also two professional law schools which train the solicitors and the barristers respectively. They are the Incorporated Law Society, for training solicitors, and the Kings Inns, for training barristers.

  
  

English Language Training

Other than the formal fulltime academic and professional studies, over the past twenty years, Ireland has also become an increasingly popular location for English language training. It has been attracting students of all ages and nationalities. Presently more than 100,000 people annually visit Ireland for undertaking language programs.