A new programme designed to increase participation by disadvantaged school-leavers in courses at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) was unveiled yesterday.
The Lifelong Educational Access Programme (LEAP), an initiative created by the DIT's Community Education Links Programme, operates in partnership with primary and second-level schools in inner Dublin.
Building on a pilot study which already involves six students, the initiative will be launched with an initial enrolment of 20 students. When fully implemented, a total of 100 students will be enrolled in the access programme.
The DIT has been one of the more innovative third-level institutions when it comes to improving access for the disadvantaged. Its colleges are located within the inner city, the area which has the least representation nationally in third-level education.
Through its Community Links Programme, the DIT has forged strong links with local primary and post-primary schools. Many of its constituent colleges are linked directly to secondary schools in their catchment areas.
The DIT also runs a supervised study programme for about 150 Leaving Cert students from various inner-city schools. The plan is to break down barriers and help develop a familiarity with third level.
According to Dr Tommy Cooke, community education links co-ordinator at DIT, higher education is not even a consideration for many inner-city school-leavers. "For the small number of inner-city young people who do manage to secure a place in third level, financial difficulties will frequently prevent them taking up a place.
"They may also feel isolated in a system which is largely middle-class. This can lead to drop-out and failure - especially in first year," he said.
Under the LEAP programme, students gain direct access to the DIT provided they have the minimum requirement for the relevant course. Students are given a £1,000 grant by the college. They also receive the standard third-level maintenance grant of about £800 for students living in Dublin.
Under a "buddy" system, DIT students encourage and assist those on access programmes.