Madam, - Carl O'Brien's article of August 15th accurately describes the barriers to third-level education for students coming from disadvantaged areas.
He refers to the grinds culture and the inequalities which exist particularly since the advent of free college fees. He also mentions the alienation that a student from a disadvantaged area such as Neilstown can feel in trying to move up a social class.
For most students, going on to third level can evoke a sense of achievement. However, if you are the only student from your housing estate going on to third level, then this may evoke a sense of fear and isolation.
Clondalkin Partnership, funded by the National Office of Equity of Access to Higher Education in the Higher Education Authority, started a three-year pilot programme in 2005. The programme runs in Clondalkin and in the county of Offaly and is aimed at increasing the proportion of students progressing to third level. The two areas were chosen due to their traditionally low number of third-level students. There is close co-operation between the Clondalkin and Offaly projects and the access programmes in the higher education institutions in our respective areas - NUI Maynooth, NUI Galway, AIT, UCD, IT Tallaght, etc.
"Access Clondalkin" is based on the principle of an integrated community approach which builds on existing valuable initiatives within local community groups and schools, such as the Clondalkin Higher Education Access Programme.
The aim is to challenge attitudes and raise awareness of the accessibility of third level to everyone.
- Yours, etc,
DAVID DUFFY, Clondalkin Partnership, New Nangor Road, Dublin 22.