Doyle, David and Muldoon, Marie and Murphy, Cliodhna (2020) Education in Ireland: accessible without discrimination for all? The International Journal of Human Rights, 24 (10). pp. 1701-1720. ISSN 1744-053X

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Abstract

While Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights articulates a comprehensive right to education, truly accessible education remains elusive in many countries. This article considers the accessibility of education in Ireland in law, policy and practice, drawing on semi-structured interviews with politicians, educators, and representatives of various relevant interest groups. The Irish education system, once described as a ‘Church-State co-operative’, has historically been controlled by the Catholic Church, but in recent times has been obliged to adapt in order to cater for an increasingly ethnically and culturally diverse school population. The article concludes that a variety of exclusionary practices have facilitated the establishment of a de facto two-tiered education system in Ireland, with marginalised groups such as asylum-seekers; religious minorities; and the indigenous Traveller community particularly disadvantaged. A recent process of legislative reform addresses some key issues, such as admission policies, which distinguish prospective students on the basis of religion, past pupil parents, and when their name was placed on the enrolment list. However, it remains to be seen whether these reforms will significantly enhance access in practice.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Cite as: David M. Doyle, Marie Muldoon & Clíodhna Murphy (2020) Education in Ireland: accessible without discrimination for all?, The International Journal of Human Rights, 24:10, 1701-1720, DOI: 10.1080/13642987.2020.1773437
Keywords:	Education; accessibility; Ireland;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Law Faculty of Social Sciences > Research Institutes > Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute, MUSSI
Item ID:	15653
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2020.1773437
Depositing User:	David Doyle
Date Deposited:	09 Mar 2022 14:52
Journal or Publication Title:	The International Journal of Human Rights
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	Publisher
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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