Madam, – Dr Greg Foley’s letter (March 10th) is a true and fair assessment of our education system, which continues to process students at second-level primarily by means of rote learning.
I am not a professional educator, but as a concerned citizen, I believe it is an indictment of our so-called first-world secondary school education system that so many students at third-level lack the basic skills of literacy and numeracy and the capacity to critically and analytically problem- solve.
Education should cultivate independent thinking and self-reliance.
Clearly in Ireland, we are way behind many other first-world countries, and our system of entry into third-level education needs to be reappraised, but not before our second-level system is radically overhauled.
No doubt another report will be produced at some future date recommending changes to our education system, and will probably lie on a shelf to gather dust.Here’s hoping for change! – Yours, etc,