Less well-off students are now much more likely to proceed to third-level colleges than they were five years ago, according to a major new report.
The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) report also shows the number of school leavers going to third-level has risen sharply in the past five years. Over 55 per cent now proceed to third-level, a figure which gives the Republic a higher participation rate than Britain.
The report, to be published shortly, says the prospect of students from poorer backgrounds going to college has more than doubled. Over 48 per cent of those whose parents are semi-skilled or unskilled manual workers will proceed to college, compared to 23 per cent five years ago.
The participation rate for these groups is, however, still very low when compared to higher professional groups and farmers, where 89 per cent from these backgrounds go to college.
The overall participation rate of 55 per cent is up 11 points since 1998. While high by British standards, this is still much lower than the rate in countries like Finland and Japan, where it can reach 65 per cent.
The report was conducted by the ESRI and Fitzpatrick Associates. It updates research conducted over a 20-year period by Prof Pat Clancy.
The new research shows an increased participation in third-level across almost all social groups. While the rate has dipped marginally in some social groups, this reflects the changing social structure nature of social classes rather than a decline in the actual numbers from this group. The economic boom means , for example, that there are far more middle managers than five years ago.
The ESRI report is important as it comes at a time when the "free fees" issue is likely to resurface. A forthcoming report from the Paris-based OECD is expected to back the return of fees and criticise the inequality at the heart of Irish third-level education.
The new research tends to suggest that prospects for poorer students have improved significantly.
The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, has said the fees issue is off the agenda for the foreseeable future. But he is known to favour radical action to improve access for disadvantaged students.
Over 126,000 students are enrolled in third-level colleges in the Republic. The new figures reflect the boom in the institute of technology (IT) sector since the last such survey in 1998. The new figures reflect the social revolution that has taken place in the past 25 years. In 1980, 20 per cent of school leavers proceeded to third level. Only a small percentage of students from less well-off backgrounds went on to college.
