Sir - May I add a footnote to the excellent two articles (July 23rd and 24th) in which TCD Provost Thomas Mitchell outlined ideas, based on TCD experiments, to improve third-level access for youngsters in low-income areas?
Specifically, I have in mind the idea that "student volunteers from the (third-level) institution acting as mentor would serve as tutors working alongside primary school teachers". I suggest that that suggestion needs to be supplemented by this one: aside from those too impaired physically to be so, no one would be allowed to leave primary school to go on to second level without a literacy and numeracy certificate, even if that meant repeating the final primary school year again and again to succeed. Because that does not obtain now, there is little or no incentive for poorly-motivated youngsters in those areas to use their eight years, provided at public expense, to be literate and numerate by the age of seventeen or so.
The tutors Provost Mitchell has in mind would help primary teachers to get that result for all their pupils, particularly those who must repeat. I suspect that a high proportion of them would succeed at first attempt, if only because of the peer pressure which rates being "kept back" poorly.
The immediate aim of gaining access to second-level at first attempt means far, far more than the distant aim of gaining third-level. Besides, L & N Certificate would make youngsters employable and promising material for on-the-job learning and part-time study.
Some time ago I wrote to the Education Minister, Michael Martin, when he was Opposition education spokesperson, suggesting that such a certificate, with related repeating if necessary, be considered for all primary-school pupils and not just for those in low-income and areas. It is well-known that large numbers from high-income homes are under-performing and suffering stress in second-level schools (and indeed at university) due to defective literacy and numeracy. Mr Martin said he would think about the idea.
Now that he has the opportunity to do something - the cost of which would be zero, save our Exchequer millions, and would not need trips to Brussels - perhaps he would let us know the results of his cogitations. - Yours, etc.,
Joe Foyle
Sandford Road, Dublin 6.