Sir, – Much has been written recently about the low numbers of cross-Border students (“State’s third-level entry requirements deterring students from the North, says ESRI”, News, September 18th). The assumption appears to be that this is down to elegantly expressed arguments about various levels of “disadvantage” which require actions.
Could the explanation be more prosaic? That students – and their families – just don’t buy into the idea of there being any advantages to cross-Border study? If there is no interest in the concept then blethering on about “disadvantage” is just so much hot air. – Yours, etc,
ALAN RITCHIE,
Belfast.