Students from fee-paying schools far more likely to attend a handful of top Dublin-based universities, according to new figures that highlight the extent of the “class gap” in higher education. By contrast, students from fee-paying schools account for less than 1 per cent of students at institutes of technology in Athlone, Galway-Mayo, Tralee, Letterkenny and Waterford. Disadvantaged studentsThe social divide is also stark when enrolment numbers are broken down by students from disadvantaged areas or Deis schools. Disadvantaged students account for between 20 and 30 per cent of undergraduates at institutes of technology in Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Tralee and Letterkenny. The proportion of students with disabilities has grown from 6 per cent in 2015 to 10 per cent last year.

Source: The Irish Times January 07, 2019 00:00 UTC