Education in the Republic of Ireland

The levels of Ireland's education are primary, secondary and higher (often known as "third-level" or tertiary) 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. For universities there are student service fees (up to €3,000 in 2015),[1] which students are required to pay on registration, to cover examinations, insurance and registration costs.[2][3]

Education in the Republic of Ireland
Department of Education
Department of Further and Higher Education
Minister for EducationNorma Foley
National education budget (2017)
Budget€9.527 billion
General details
Primary languagesIrish, English
System typeNational
Compulsory education1922
Literacy (2003)
Total99%
Male99%
Female99%
Enrollment
Total1,091,632
Primary544,696
Secondary372,296
Post secondary174,640
Attainment
Secondary diploma89%
Post-secondary diploma47%
Life in Ireland
Culture
Economy
General
Society
Politics
Policies

The Department of Education, under the control of the Minister for Education, is in overall control of policy, funding and direction, while other important organisations are the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, and on a local level the Education and Training Boards are the only comprehensive system of government organisation. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, a new department formed in August 2020, will create policy and control funding for third-level institutions. There are many other statutory and non-statutory bodies that have a function in the education system. As of 2020, Norma Foley is the current Minister for Education and Simon Harris is the current Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

History

The sixteenth century Tudor monarchs establishment of the first state funded Educational institutions in Ireland, with the first printing presses appearing under Henry,[4] Queen Elizabeth establishing Trinity College Dublin, approving the printing of the first Irish language books,[5] and instructing Latin-free schools be established in each parish.

The seventeenth century Stuart monarchs saw the Education Act 1695 prohibiting Irish Catholics from seeking a popish education abroad, or running popish schools in Ireland, till its repeal in 1782.[6] Instead they set up highly informal secret operations that met in private homes, called "hedge schools."[7] Historians generally agree that they provided a kind of schooling, occasionally at a high level, for up to 400,000 students, in 9000 schools, by the mid-1820s.[8] J. R. R. Adams says the hedge schools testified "to the strong desire of ordinary Irish people to see their children receive some sort of education." Antonia McManus argues that there "can be little doubt that Irish parents set a high value on a hedge school education and made enormous sacrifices to secure it for their children....[the hedge schoolteacher was] one of their own".[9] The 1782 repeal of the 1695 penal laws had made the Hedge schools legal, although still not in receipt of funding from the Parliament of Ireland.

Formal schools for Catholics under trained teachers began to appear after 1800. Edmund Ignatius Rice (1762-1844) founded two religious institutes of religious brothers: the Congregation of Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers. They opened numerous schools, which were visible, legal, and standardised. Discipline was notably strict.[10]

From 1811, the Society for the Promotion of the Education of the Poor of Ireland (Kildare Place Society), started to established a nationwide network of non-profit, non-denominational schools, in part funded through the production and sale of textbooks.[11] By 1831, they were operating 1,621 primary schools, and educating approximately 140,000 pupils.[12]

In 1831, the Stanley letter led to the establishment of the Board of National Education and the National School system using public money. The UK Government appointed the commissioner of national education whose task was to assist in funding primary school construction, teacher training, the producing of textbooks, and funding of teachers.[11]

Hedge schools declined after 1831 as the Catholic bishops preferred this, as the new schools would be largely under the control of the Catholic Church and allow better control of the teaching of Catholic doctrine.[13]

On Saturday 10 September 1966, the Fianna Fáil Education Minister, Donogh O’Malley, famously made his unauthorised speech announcing plans for free second-level education in Ireland. Free second-level education was eventually introduced in September 1967, and is now widely seen as a milestone in Irish history.[14]

21st century

Students must go to school from ages 6 to 16 or until they have completed three years of second-level of education. [15] Under the Constitution of Ireland, parents are not obliged "in violation of their conscience and lawful preference to send their children to schools established by the State, or to any particular type of school designated by the State."[16] However, the parental right to homeschool his/her child has met legal contests over minimum standards in the absence of constitutional provision for State-defined educational standards.

In 1973, the Irish language requirement for a second-level certificate was abandoned.[17] However, the Irish language remains a core subject taught in all public schools with exemptions given to individual pupils on grounds of significant periods lived abroad, or with learning difficulties etc.

While English is the primary medium of instruction at all levels in most schools across the state, Gaelscoileanna i.e. Irish-language schools, have become increasingly popular outside Gaeltacht regions where they have traditionally been. In these schools, Irish is the primary medium of instruction at all levels and English is taught as a second language.

At third level, most university courses are conducted in English, with only a few Irish language options. Some universities offer courses partly through French, German or Spanish.

Ireland has one of the best education systems in the world with regard to higher education achievements.[18]

Framework
EQF level EHEA cycle NFQ level Major award types
1   1 Level 1 Certificate
2 Level 2 Certificate
2 3 Level 3 Certificate
Junior Certificate
3 4 Level 4 Certificate
Leaving Certificate
4 5 Level 5 Certificate
Leaving Certificate
5 6 Advanced Certificate
Short cycle within 1st Higher Certificate
6 1st 7 Ordinary Bachelor's degree
  8 Honours bachelor's degree
Higher diploma
7 2nd 9 Master's degree
Postgraduate diploma
8 3rd 10 Doctorate degree
Higher doctorate

Years

Education is compulsory for all children in Ireland from the ages of six to sixteen or until students have completed three years of second-level education and including one sitting of the Junior Certificate examination. Primary education commonly starts at four to five years old. Children typically enroll in a Junior Infant class at age four or five depending on parental wishes. Some schools enrollment policies have age four by a specific date minimum age requirements.

Pre-school

Most play schools in Ireland are in the private sector. Increasingly, children of working parents, who are below school age; attend a myriad of crèches, play-schools, Montessori schools, etc., which have sprung up in response to the changing needs of modern families. These operate as businesses and may charge often substantial childcare fees. Since 2009, in response to public demand for affordable childcare, children may receive two years free preschool the years prior to starting primary schools under the "Early Childcare and Education Scheme".[19]

Irish language Naíonraí are growing rapidly across Ireland. Nearly 4,000 preschoolers attend 278 preschool groups.

Primary school
  • Junior Infants (age 4-5/5-6)
  • Senior Infants (age 5-6/6-7)
  • First Class (age 6-7/7-8)
  • Second Class (age 7-8/8-9)
  • Third Class (age 8-9/9-10)
  • Fourth Class (age 9-10/10-11)
  • Fifth Class (age 10-11/11-12)
  • Sixth Class (age 11-12/12-13)

Primary school children usually start between 8:30 a.m. and 9:20 a.m. Children finish between 1.10 p.m. and 2 p.m. in Junior & Senior infants, while older children spend another hour in school and finish between 2:10 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Secondary school

Since 1967, secondary school education has been state funded in Ireland.[20]

Junior Cycle

The Junior Cycle is a three-year programme, culminating in the Junior Certificate examination. The Junior Certificate examination is sat in all subjects (usually 10 or 11) in early-June, directly after the end of Third Year.

  • First Year (age 12–14)
  • Second Year (age 13–15)
  • Third Year (age 14–16)
Transition Year
  • Transition Year sometimes called Fourth Year (age 15–17) – depending on school, this may be compulsory, optional or unavailable.[21]
Senior Cycle

The Senior Cycle is a two-year programme to prepare students for the Leaving Certificate examinations. The Leaving Certificate examinations take place directly after the end of Sixth Year, with the first exam being held on the Wednesday following the June public holiday (the first Monday in June).

  • Fifth Year (age 16–18 or age 15–17 if Transition Year is skipped)
  • Sixth Year (age 17–19 or age 16–18 if Transition Year is skipped)

To prepare students for the State examination in both the Senior (Leaving Certificate) and Junior (Junior Certificate) cycles, many schools hold Mock Examinations (also known as Pre-Certificate Examinations) around February each year. These "mocks" are not state examinations: independent companies provide the exam papers and marking schemes – and are therefore not mandatory across all schools.

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 leaves to the church authorities (usually the Catholic Church but not universally) the formulation and implementation of the religious curriculum in the schools they control. The curriculum seeks to celebrate the uniqueness of the child:[22]

...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...

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 standardised tests are still performed. The primary school system consists of eight years: Junior and Senior Infants, and First to Sixth Classes. Most children attend primary school between the ages of four and twelve although it is not compulsory until the age of six. A minority of children start school at three.

Virtually all state-funded primary schools – almost 97 percent – are under church control. Irish law allows schools under church control to consider religion the main factor in admissions. Oversubscribed schools often choose to admit Catholics over non-Catholics, a situation that has created difficulty for non-Catholic families. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva asked James Reilly, the Minister for Children at that time, to explain the continuation of preferential access to state-funded schools on the basis of religion. He said that the laws probably needed to change, but noted it may take a referendum because the Irish constitution gives protections to religious institutions. The issue is most problematic in the Dublin area. A petition initiated by a Dublin attorney, Paddy Monahan, has received almost 20,000 signatures in favour of overturning the preference given to Catholic children. A recently formed advocacy group, Education Equality, is planning a legal challenge.[23]

Types of school

Primary education is generally completed at a national school, a multidenominational school, a gaelscoil or a preparatory school.

  • National schools date back to the introduction of state primary education in 1831. They are usually controlled by a board of management under diocesan patronage and often include a local clergyman.[24][25] The term "national school" has of late become partly synonymous with primary school in some parts. Recently, there have been calls from many sides for fresh thinking in the areas of funding and governance for such schools, with some wanting them to be fully secularised.[26]
  • Gaelscoileanna are a recent movement, started in the mid 20th century. The Irish language is the working language in these schools and they can now be found countrywide in English-speaking communities. They differ from Irish-language national schools in Irish-speaking regions in that most are under the patronage of a voluntary organisation, Foras Pátrúnachta na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaeilge, rather than a diocesan patronage.[24] Approximately 6% of primary school children attend Gaelscoils and approximately 3% attend Gaelcholáistí with 187 primary and post-primary schools across the country making it the fastest growing education sector.
  • Multidenominational schools are another innovation. They are generally under the patronage of a non-profit limited company without share capital. They are often opened due to parental demand and students from all religions and backgrounds are welcome. Many are under the patronage of voluntary organisations such as Educate Together or An Foras Pátrúnachta.[27] At least one proposed school has been approved under the patronage of the regional ETB, who generally run vocational secondary schools.[25] In October 2020, general secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland Paddy Lavelle confirmed that multidenominational state secondary schools, called State's Education and Training Boards (ETBs) – formerly called vocational schools – were going to phase out a set of Catholic influences such as mandatory graduation masses, displaying Catholic symbols only, and visits from diocesan inspectors, as described in the 'framework for the recognition of religious belief/identities of all students in ETB schools'.[28]
  • Preparatory schools are independent, fee-paying primary schools that are not reliant on the state for funding. These typically serve to prepare children for entry to fee-paying independent or voluntary secondary schools. Most are under the patronage of a religious order.

As of 2010 mainstream primary schools numbered as follows:[29]

Type of school Number (total: 3165) Percentage of total
(to 1d.p.)
Roman Catholic 2,884 91.1%
Church of Ireland (Anglican) 180 5.7%
Multi-denominational 73 2.3%
Presbyterian 14 0.4%
Inter-Denominational 8 0.3%
Muslim 2 <0.1%
Methodist 1 <0.1%
Jewish 1 <0.1%
Quaker 4 0.1%
Other/Unknown 1 <0.1%

Secondary education

Most students enter secondary school aged 12–13. Most students attend and complete secondary education, with approximately 90% of school-leavers taking the terminal examination, the Leaving Certificate, at age 16–19 (in 6th Year at secondary school). Secondary education is generally completed at one of four types of school:[30][31]

  • Voluntary secondary schools, or just "secondary schools", are owned and managed by religious communities or private organisations. The state funds 90% of teachers' salaries. With respect to other running costs, the vast majority of schools have 95% covered by the state with the balance being made up largely through voluntary contributions from pupils' families, while a minority of schools charge fees for pupils to attend and do not receive state subvention other than teachers' salaries. These schools cater for 57% of secondary pupils.
  • Vocational schools are owned and managed by Education and Training Boards, with 93% of their costs met by the state. These schools educate 28% of secondary pupils.
  • Comprehensive schools or community schools were established in the 1960s, often by amalgamating voluntary secondary and vocational schools. They are fully funded by the state and run by local boards of management. Nearly 15% of secondary pupils attend such schools.
  • Grind schools are fee-paying privately run schools outside the state sector, who tend to run only the Senior Cycle curriculum for 5th and 6th Year students as well as a one-year repeat Leaving Certificate programme.

Gaelcholáistí are second-level schools (voluntary, vocational or comprehensive) located within English-speaking communities but in which the Irish language is used as the main medium of education. Approximately 3% of secondary students attend these schools.

In urban areas, there is considerable freedom in choosing the type of school the child will attend. The emphasis of the education system at second level is as much on breadth as on depth; the system attempts to prepare the individual for society and further education or work. This is similar to the education system in Scotland. Although in 2012, the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) found Ireland to be 7th in reading and 20th in mathematics in a world survey at the age of 15.[32]

Types of programme

The document Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools published by the Department of Education and Skills sets out the minimum standards of education required at this level. Examinations are overseen by the State Examinations Commission. Additional documents set out the standard in each element, module or subject.

  • The Junior Cycle builds on the education received at primary level and culminates with the Junior Certificate Examination. Students usually begin this at the age of 12 or 13. The Junior Certificate Examination is taken after three years of study and not before fourteen years of age. It consists of exams in English, Irish, Maths and Science (unless the student has an exemption in one of these) as well as a number of chosen subjects. This is typically a selection of subjects including Art, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Ancient Greek and Classical Studies, Music, Business Studies, Technology, Home Economics, Materials Technology (Woodwork, Metalwork), History, Geography, Civic Social and Political Education (CSPE), and Religious Education. The selection of optional and compulsory subjects varies from school to school.[33] Most students take around ten examined subjects altogether. Other non-examined classes at Junior Cycle level include Physical Education and Social Personal and Health Education (SPHE).
  • Transition Year is a one-year informal course taken by an increasing number of students usually ages 15 or 16. The content of this is left to the school to model on the local needs. It is compulsory in some schools but optional in others. Some schools do not offer it. Students may attend structured classes, but do not cover material relevant to the Senior Cycle or the Leaving Certificate exams, and therefore students who choose not to do this year are in no way academically disadvantaged when entering the Senior Cycle. The range of activities in Transition Year or Fourth Year differs greatly from school to school, but many include activities such as work experience placements, project work, international trips or exchanges and excursions. Students may participate in courses such as creative writing, sailing, film-making, public speaking and so on, or enter competitions in science, fashion, motor sport and others that would normally be too time-consuming for a full-time student. Proponents of TY believe that it allows students an extra year to mature, engage in self-directed learning, explore career options and to choose subjects for senior cycle (the results of the Junior Certificate examination do not become available until midway through September, by which time students not taking Transition Year will already have chosen their classes and begun attending). Opponents believe that a year away from traditional study and the classroom environment can distract students and cause problems when they return to the Senior Cycle. They also believe that the activities undertaken in TY prevent some students from enrolling in this year, as they can be costly and most schools charge a fee of a few hundred euro to cover these activities.
  • The Senior Cycle builds on the junior cycle and culminates with the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students normally begin this aged 15–17 the year following the completion of the Junior Cycle or Transition Year. The Leaving Certificate Examination is taken after two years of study usually at the ages of 17–19.

Therefore, a typical secondary school will consist of First to Third Year (with the Junior Certificate at the end of Third), the usually optional Transition Year (though compulsory in some schools), and Fifth and Sixth Year (with the Leaving Cert. at the end of Sixth).

The vast majority of students continue from lower level to senior level, with only 12.3% leaving after the Junior Certificate. This is lower than the EU average of 15.2%.[34]

Ireland's secondary students rank above average in terms of academic performance in both the OECD and EU; having reading literacy, mathematical literacy and scientific literacy test scores better than average. Ireland has the second best reading literacy for teenagers in the EU, after Finland.[34]

Third-level education
Main article: Third-level education in the Republic of Ireland

Special needs education

The "Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004"[35] established the framework for the education of students with special needs.[36][37]

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) supports students with physical and intellectual disabilities.[38][39] Some schools provide specific services to students with disabilities.[39] Students with dyslexia are offered additional supports where funding is available.

Special needs assistant

A Special Needs Assistant (SNA) is a teaching assistant who is specialised in working with young people in the classroom setting who require additional learning support due to disability.[40][41][42][43]

Areas of Disadvantage

The Department of Education and Skills identifies disadvantaged schools and has schemes in place to provide additional assistance to low-income families and families experiencing financial hardship. Available assistance includes an allowance for school clothing and footwear, assistance with purchasing school books (administered by school principals), exemption from examination fees for the Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate exams, and a 'remote areas boarding grant' that facilitates students living in remote areas to attend secondary school.[44]

Holidays

At primary level, schools are required to open for a minimum of 183 days and 167 at post-primary level. Standard Easter, Christmas and mid-term breaks are published by the Department of Education for the upcoming years.[45] Exact dates vary depending on the school. Generally primary and secondary get similar holidays. The year is broken up into three terms:

  • From the week in which 1 September falls to the week before Christmas.
  • From the week after New Year's Day to the week before Easter Sunday
  • From the week after Easter Sunday to the end of June for primary level or end of May/start of June for post-primary level to facilitate state exams starting in June.

There is a mid-term break (one week off halfway through a term) around the public holiday at the end of October, two weeks off for Christmas: generally the last week in December and the first week in January, another mid-term break in February, two weeks off for Easter and summer holidays. Public Holidays is also taken off.[46]

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland, all schools, colleges, universities and childcare facilities closed in March 2020 and remained closed until the end of August/September 2020.[47][48]

See also

References
  1. Citizensinformation.ie. "Third-level student fees and charges". citizensinformation.ie.
  2. "Undergraduate courses of not less than two years duration in colleges in List 1". Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010. Student Finance.ie, information for Undergraduate students
  3. "Fees FAQ". Retrieved 24 February 2010. University College Dublin, Administrative Services - Fees & Grants
  4. Printing of Ireland's first book, the `Book of Common Prayer', to be commemorated - The Irish times
  5. New catalogue of books printed in Irish from 1571 to 1871 - RTE
  6. Tony Crowley (2002). The Politics of Language in Ireland 1366-1922: A Sourcebook. Routledge. p. 91. ISBN 978-1-134-72902-9.
  7. Tony Lyons, "The Hedge Schools of Ireland." History 24#6 (2016). pp 28-31 online
  8. Antonia McManus (2002). The Irish Hedge School and Its Books, 1695-1831. Four Courts. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-85182-661-2.
  9. Historians Adams and McManus are quoted in Michael C. Coleman, American Indians, the Irish, and Government Schooling: A Comparative Study (2005) p 35.
  10. Daire Keogh, "Forged in the Fire of Persecution: Edmund Rice (1762–1844) and the Counter-Reformationary Character of the Irish Christian Brothers." in Brendan Walsh, ed., Essays in the History of Irish Education (2016) pp. 83-103.
  11. THE DARING FIRST DECADE OF THE BOARD OF NATIONAL EDUCATION, 1831-1841, John Coolahan, University College Dublin, The Irish Journal of Education 1983 xvu 1 pp 35 54
  12. National Schools in the 19th Century - Kildare Place Society,
  13. Donald H. Akenson, The Irish Educational Experiment: The National System of Education in the Nineteenth Century (1970).
  14. "Donogh O'Malley's speech announcing free secondary education recreated by son". The Irish Times. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  15. Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 (Section 17), archived
  16. Article 42.3.1, Constitution of Ireland, 1937
  17. Richard Burke, Minister for Education announced at press conference on 5 April 1973 Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  18. pTools, Admin. "Why Study in Ireland". educationinireland.com.
  19. Citizensinformation.ie. "Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme". citizensinformation.ie.
  20. O'Brien, Carl (14 February 2017). "Fifty years after free secondary education, what big idea do we need in 2017?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 18 November 2019.
  21. Transition Year Support Service Archived 2 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  22. Chapter 1, Primary School Curriculum Archived 10 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine, NCCA, 1999
  23. Catholic Church’s Hold on Schools at Issue in Changing Ireland The New York Times, 21 January 2016
  24. Citizensinformation.ie. "Ownership of primary schools". citizensinformation.ie. Archived from the original on 9 April 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2009.
  25. "Minister Hanafin announces intention to pilot new additional model of Primary School Patronage" (press release). Department of Education and Science. 17 February 2007.
  26. RTÉ News (31 January 2007) - Primary school principals gather in Dublin Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  27. "Gaelscoileanna with a Multidenominational characteristic spirit". pp. Gaelscoileanna with a Multidenominational characteristic spirit.
  28. Carl O'Brien (12 October 2020). "Catholic symbols in State schools to be phased out". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 October 2020.
  29. Mainstream National Primary Schools 2010-2011 School Year. Enrolment as on 30 September 2010, Statistic delivered by Department of Education and Skills website. Retrieved 29 March 2012. Archived 26 September 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  30. "Choosing a post-primary school". Citizens Information Board. 30 July 2018.
  31. "Education Provision in Ireland" (PDF). UNESCO International Board of Education. 2001. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
  32. "Pisa tests: Top 40 for maths and reading". BBC News. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  33. Ireland, Ecom. "State Examination Commission - Candidates". examinations.ie.
  34. "Server Error 404 - CSO - Central Statistics Office" (PDF). cso.ie.
  35. "Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004". Act No. 30/2004 of 19 July 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
  36. "Dealing with special needs". The Irish Times. 25 October 2004. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
  37. Coulter, Carol (14 October 2004). "Solicitor says parents of the disabled have right to sue". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 19 November 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
  38. "NCSE - About".
  39. "Rosmini Community School - Policy".
  40. "Special Needs Assistants". INTO.
  41. "EDUCATION Minister Batt O'Keeffe is warning that more special needs assistants (SNAs) will be axed in schools, on top of 200 positions already lost". 27 February 2010. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  42. "Special Needs Assistants Tell of Assaults by Pupils ; School Managers See Assaults by Pupils on SNAs as 'Part of the Job'". 5 April 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  43. "SNAs Cap Lift Will See 400 New Posts to Help Children". 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 30 September 2017. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  44. "Financial help with going to school". Citizens Information. 3 September 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  45. "School Holiday Dates - Department of Education and Skills". education.ie. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  46. Krimpen, Jeroen van. "School holidays Ireland". schoolholidayseurope.eu. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  47. "Covid-19 - Statement from the Department of Education and Skills". education.ie. Department of Education and Skills. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
  48. "Ireland: Schools set to fully reopen before end of August". BBC News. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 17 August 2020.

Further reading
  • Akenson, D. H. with Sean Farren and John Coolahan. "Pre-university education, 1921-84" in J. R. Hill, ed. A New History of Ireland: Vol. VII Ireland, 1921-84 (1976) pp 711–56 online
  • Akenson, Donald H. The Irish Education Experiment: The National System of Education in the Nineteenth Century (1981; 2nd ed 2014)
  • Akenson, Donald H. A Mirror to Kathleen’s Face: Education in Independent Ireland, 1922–60 (1975)
  • Connell, Paul. Parson Priest and Master: National Education in Co. Meath 1824-41 (1995)
  • Coolahan, John. Irish Education, History and Structure (Dublin: Institute of Public Administration, 1981).
  • Dowling, Patrick J. A history of Irish education: a study in conflicting loyalties (Cork, 1971).
  • Dowling, Patrick J. The Hedge Schools of Ireland (1998).
  • Farren, Sean. The politics of Irish education 1920-65 (Belfast, 1995).
  • Loxley, Andrew, and Aidan Seery, eds. Higher Education in Ireland: Practices, Policies and Possibilities (2014)
  • Luce, J. V. Trinity College, Dublin: the first 400 years (Dublin, 1992).
  • McDermid, Jane. The Schooling of Girls in Britain and Ireland, 1800-1900 (2012)
  • McElligott, T. J. Education in Ireland (Dublin, 1966).
  • McManus, Antonia. The Irish Hedge School and its Books, 1695–1831 (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2002)
  • O'Donoghue, Thomas, and Judith Harford, eds. Teacher Preparation in Ireland: History, Policy and Future Directions (2017)
  • O'Donoghue, Thomas A. "The Roman Catholic ethos of Irish secondary schools, 1924-62, and its implications for teaching and school organisation" Journal of Educational Administration and History, 22#2 (1990), pp 27–37.
  • Raftery, Deirdre, and Susan M. Parkes, eds. Female Education in Ireland, 1700–1900: Minerva or Madonna (Irish Academic Press, 2007).
  • Raftery, Mary, and O'Sullivan, Eoin. Suffer the little children: the inside story of Ireland's industrial schools (Dublin, 1999).

Primary sources
  • Hyland, Áine, and Kenneth Milne, eds. Irish educational documents: A selection of extracts from documents relating to the history of Irish education from the earliest times to 1922 (Church of Ireland College of Education, 1995)
  • Hyland, Áine, and Kenneth Milne, eds. Irish educational documents. Vol. 2: a selection of extracts... relating to the history of education from 1922 to 1991 (Dublin, 1991).
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