Education in The Republic of Ireland

Education In The Republic Of Ireland

The levels of education in Ireland are 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. Education in Ireland is free at all levels, including college (university), but only for students applying from the European Union. For universities there are student service fees (up to €2,000 in 2011) which students are required to pay on registration, to cover examinations, insurance and registration costs.

The Department of Education and Skills, under the control of the Minister for Education and Skills, is in overall control of policy, funding and direction, whilst other important organisations are the National Qualifications Authority of Ireland, the Higher Education Authority, and on a local level the 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. The current Minister for Education is Ruairi Quinn.

Read more about Education In The Republic Of Ireland:  Introduction, Primary Education, Secondary Education, Further Education

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    Those things for which the most money is demanded are never the things which the student most wants. Tuition, for instance, is an important item in the term bill, while for the far more valuable education which he gets by associating with the most cultivated of his contemporaries no charge is made.
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