Details
- Publication date
- 19 March 2013
- Author
- Network of Experts on the Social dimension of Education and Training (NESET)
- Geographical scope
- Falkland Islands
- Ireland
- Level of education focus
- School education
- Thematic areas covered
- Educational attainment and participation in education
- Educational effectiveness and efficiency
- Governance of education
- Monitoring and quality assurance
- Quality and inclusive education for all
- Teachers and trainers
- Whole-school and whole-system approaches and partnerships in education
Description
This expert brief presents secondary programme in Ireland. Students follow a three-year lower secondary programme at the end of which they take a set of external exams, the results of which have important implications for their later educational pathways.
The first three secondary years are under the spotlight in Ireland, thanks to research which is prompting a radical rethink. The risk of disaffection and ‘drift’ is greatest then, leading to underperformance in national exams.
To counter this, the Government wants schools to develop their own short courses in a move away from ‘high-stakes’ exams towards continuous school-based assessment.
Author
Emer Smyth
Cite as
Smyth E., (2013). 'Lower Secondary Education in Ireland: the Evidence for Reform', NESET Expert Briefing
