Ireland Education System
Ireland has long been recognised as a global leader in the education field and Irish pupils perform in the top sectors in international studies such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) PISA evaluations. Employers, both national and international, affirm the quality of graduates from the Irish education system.
Primary
The Irish primary school system, where students usually attend up to the age of twelve, is extremely child-centred and based around the concept of collaborative learning.
Although children are not obliged to begin education until the age of six, almost all 5-year-old children are at school. Primary education consists of an eight-year cycle: junior infants, senior infants, and first to sixth classes. In Ireland, all children are entitled to free primary education.
Secondary
Second-level education consists of a 3-year junior cycle followed by a 2-year or 3-year senior cycle depending on whether an optional Transition Year is taken following the Junior Certificate examination.
The junior cycle provides the basis for post-primary schools to plan quality, inclusive and relevant education programmes with improved learning experiences for all students. The Junior Certificate examination is held at the end of the junior cycle in secondary schools. Students normally sit for the examinations after 3 years of education.
Third Level
Third-level education is made up of a number of sectors. The university sector, the technological sector and the colleges of education are substantially funded by the State. In addition, there are a number of independent private colleges.
There are universities that are autonomous and self-governing. They offer degree programmes at bachelor, masters and doctorate level and include Trinity College Dublin, Dublin City University, University College Dublin, Maynooth University, University College Cork, University of Limerick, and National University of Ireland Galway. In addition, there are a number of private medical colleges such as the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin.
