Should you become a teacher in Ireland? I find it hard to recommend it these days
Having three unions in teaching is not a great thing; in fact, it’s quite a bad thing
Students
Stories related to third level students
What are the key factors to be aware of when filling out a CAO application form?
Every year some students miss out on round-one offers due to errors, omissions or failure to spot an important message
Here’s a study guide for the final months before the Leaving Cert exams
We got expert tips from two of Ireland’s leading study websites and their learning experts
Forget the CAO: Here are some alternatives to college
Apprenticeships, traineeships and PLCs provide alternative routes to exciting, well-paid careers
College Choice: Essential reading for Leaving Certificate students
We hope there’s something for every Leaving Cert student (and parent!) in today’s College Choice guide in The Irish Times
Key dates for 2026 CAO applications: from early-bird applications to Leaving Cert appeals
Here is every important date in the CAO calendar along with important links, reminders and information about fees
Things to consider when choosing an Irish secondary school for your child
Feeder schools tables are informative, but there are plenty of other requirements to consider when looking at schools
Feeder schools: How graduates of Irish second-level schools are progressing to third-level institutions
Pick up our supplement with The Irish Times today to find out everything you need to know
How do I choose the right secondary school for my child?
Apart from feeder schools lists, what else should parents and guardians consider?
Feeder Schools 2025: What you need to know about latest data for Irish schools
Data is compiled from State Examinations Commission Leaving Cert sits list and lists provided by higher education institutions
Feeder Schools: Six take-aways from this year’s listings
Deis has improved progression prospects of students in disadvantaged areas but Ireland is still not an equal-opportunity society for children
Feeder Schools: Why are further education and training progression rates not included?
Further education and training is a category that includes Post-Leaving Cert (PLC), apprenticeship and traineeship courses
Feeder Schools: How to make sense of school progression charts
14,000 of the 2025 Leaving Cert class decided that applying to the CAO was not right for them
‘My son has no idea what he wants to do after college, so how real is the CAO cut-off point?’
The February 1st initial deadline is in many ways an administrative carryover from a bygone era
Artificial intelligence is here ... and it is already rewriting the rules of education
‘As educators, our job is not to shield students from AI, but to prepare them for the reality of the working world’
Education matters: Places on medical and paramedical degrees in Ulster University
Ask Brian: There are places open to Republic of Ireland students, but applications must be submitted to UCAS by January 14th
Ireland’s outdoor primary school: ‘A lot of people panic about the weather’
The Outdoor Primary School (TOPS), in Greystones, Co Wicklow, functions outside the Department of Education’s remit, but staff and parents rhapsodise about the benefits of such an education
Virtual reality as a lifeline: ‘For some young people it’s the social’
Foróige GoVirtual seeks to connect vulnerable and isolated young people through virtual reality
‘My son is considering a trade or apprenticeship option, but should he make a CAO application too?’
Ask Brian: Now is the peak season for conversations among sixth years about their next steps
Secret Teacher: I handled that PT meeting incorrectly, even though I stand over what I said
Smiling like a self-assured Bond villain, the mother leaned in – ‘they don’t think they’re succeeding in your class’
Education matters: ‘My son is overwhelmed by college and is considering dropping out’
Ask Brian: Combination of new environment and a course that does not fit can leave even the most capable young people adrift
Ireland’s graduates: ‘Everyone I know is thinking of moving abroad or has gone’
Many find it tough to find work in their desired sector upon leaving college - a harsh situation each year that doesn’t seem to improve
A national conversation about the future of Irish education is about to start. It could be magical
It must make space for voices that are too often left out, and children and young people must be at its heart
Nursing and midwifery offer careers for those with aptitude, curiosity and compassion
A degree in nursing or midwifery is a foundation for lifelong learning, with job opportunities across diverse settings
Less forest ‘school’, more ‘nature immersion project that focuses on a child’s wellbeing’
A forest school in Co Clare offers no curriculum or classes, just a nature-based space, and activities that seek to spark children’s curiosities and interests
New Deis Plus plan for Ireland’s most disadvantaged areas needs to be bold
If Deis Plus is watered down, it will be horrifically depressing for everyone within education
‘What funding support is available if I secure a place in university?’
Budget changes to Susi funding include an increase in income threshold for the €500 student contribution grant
‘Points don’t define potential – work ethic and passion do’
Rickwang Tientcheu says he drifted through the Covid years of second level before building up his own app for students, Edu Éire
Should I consider allowing my child to study abroad?
About 90% of programmes in the Netherlands do not have a selection procedure and require only minimum entry requirements
‘It’s a rare opportunity’: Students share advice for study abroad in Europe
From budgeting to language learning, students reflect on their experiences studying abroad
Would it not be better if children could take the books home from school?
‘Reading for pleasure among teenagers is in decline, yet here is an opportunity to give every student in the country at least one free novel a year’
HSE to be required to take on clinical placement students in plans to combat under-resourced areas
‘We may have a fight on our hands,’ HSE boss Bernard Gloster says as number of speciality staff increases ‘exponentially’
CAO applications: How can I help my son complete the process properly?
Any correspondence from the Central Applications Office must be dealt with promptly
AI: Are we empowering students - or outsourcing the skills we aim to cultivate?
AI literacy is essential for preparing students to succeed in a future shaped by this technology
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
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