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The Republic of Ireland's education system is quite similar to that of most other western countries. There are three distinct levels of education in Ireland: primary, secondary and higher (often known as third-level) education. In recent years further education has grown immensely. Growth in the economy since the 1960s has driven much of the change in the education system.

The Department of Education and Science, under the control of the Minister for Education, is in overall control of policy, funding and direction, whilst other important organisations are the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland and the Higher Education Authority, on a local level Vocational Education Committees are the only comprehensive system of government organisation. There are many other statutory and non-statutory bodies which have a function in the education system.

1 Introduction

All children must receive compulsory education between the ages of six and fifteen years in Ireland. The Constitution of Ireland allows this education to be provided in the home: this has caused much legal wrangling for years as to the minimum standards required for home education since the constitution does not provide for the State to define these minimum standards.

Compulsory education in the Irish language was abolished in 1973, although a student attending a school which receives public money must be taught the language. Certain students may get an exemption from Irish; these include students who spent a significant period of time abroad or students with a learning difficulty.

English is the primary medium of instruction at all levels, except in Gaelscoileanna: schools in which Irish is the working language and which are increasingly popular. Universities also offer degree programmes in diverse disciplines, taught through Irish, not just the Irish language and related literature.

2 Primary Education

The Primary School Curriculum (1999) is taught in all schools. The document is prepared by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment and is perhaps unusual in leaving to church authorities the formulation and implementation of the religious curriculum in the schools they control. The curriculum seeks to celebrate the uniqueness of the child:

...as it is expressed in each child's personality, intelligence and potential for development. It is designed to nurture the child in all dimensions of his or her life -- spiritual, moral, cognitive, emotional, imaginative, aesthetic, social and physical... ¹

The Primary Certificate Examination (1929 - 1967) was the terminal examination at this level until the first primary school curriculum, Curaclam na Bunscoile (1971), was introduced, though informal standardized tests are still performed. The primary school system consists of eight years: Junior and Senior Infants (corresponding to kindergarten), and First to Sixth Classes.

2.1 Types of School

Primary education is generally completed at a gaelscoilA gaelscoil (Plural: gaelscoileanna is an Irish-speaking school often also co-educational usually found in Ireland. Irish is the working language for these schools, so they offer a quicker and more comprehensive education in Irish. Most of the schools are, multidenominational schoolA multidenominational school is a relatively new type of primary school in Ireland. They often try to move away from traditional models based around religion, which are common in Ireland, typically these are Roman Catholic and to a lesser extent Church of, or national schoolA national school is a particular type of primary school in Ireland which is not directly financed and administered by the State: rather the affairs and policies of the school are managed by a local Board of Management which is often directed by a member. Some Multidenominational schools and gaelscoileanna are actually national schools themselves. As is characteristic of much of the rest of education system, the parent has great choice in choosing the type of school appropriate for the child.

GaelscoilA gaelscoil (Plural: gaelscoileanna is an Irish-speaking school often also co-educational usually found in Ireland. Irish is the working language for these schools, so they offer a quicker and more comprehensive education in Irish. Most of the schools areeanna are a very recent innovation, started only late in the last century. The Irish language is the working language in these schools. They are particularly en vogue in non-Irish speaking areas.

Multidenominational schoolA multidenominational school is a relatively new type of primary school in Ireland. They often try to move away from traditional models based around religion, which are common in Ireland, typically these are Roman Catholic and to a lesser extent Church ofs are another recent innovation. They are generally under the patronage of a limited company without share capital. They are often opened due to parental demand and all are welcome.

National schoolA national school is a particular type of primary school in Ireland which is not directly financed and administered by the State: rather the affairs and policies of the school are managed by a local Board of Management which is often directed by a members date back to the introduction of state primary education in the mid- 19th centuryAlternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical ( 18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801- 1900. Events The Little Ice Age ended. They are usually controlled by of a board of management under diocesanIn the Roman Empire, a diocese was a city district or part of a province. In the Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see patronage and often include a local clergyman. The term national school has of late become partly synonymous with primary school in some parts.

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