Jim Moore Mayor of Wexford
Currently enjoying a busy term as Mayor of Wexford, Cllr. Jim Moore has a particular desire on his New Year wish list, apart from the ambitions he expressed on the night of his election to the role in relation to economic and housing development, the mental well-being of young people, the advancement of Rosslare Europort and the creation of a Maritime Trail from Curracloe to Cullenstown.
The board member of WIT and a former chief executive of the National Parents’ Council would like to see a step being taken towards transforming the way we approach the existing third level education system.
Concerned about the huge drop-out rate among students in their first year in college, Cllr. Moore fervently believes we need to re-think our attitude to learning and career options after the Leaving Certificate and our approach to the traditional education models that we have grown up with.
The Mayor would like to see parents starting a conversation with their children to encourage an alternative approach to the pressures and expectations that are promoted in relation to third level education.
‘We should change how we determine what third level education is. I’ve looked at models in other jurisdictions. I believe we should call it ‘ tertiary’ education to change the concept of what we mean by third level learning which has three elements - apprenticeships, PLC’s and college or university’.
‘We need to start a discussion with our children and to make changes in how we guide young people into further education and careers,’ said the Mayor.
‘We need to start talking about it at home and in the schools. Parents have a huge role to play in delivering that conversation, as well as the schools. The drop-out rates in our colleges after first year is extremely high because you have people in the wrong places. It’s averaging about 27%’,’ he said.
The Fine Gael councillor is whole-heartedly supportive of the progress being made towards the provision of a technological university of the south-east which he said must aspire to an international standard. He also acknowledged the existing third level education provision in Wexford at the Carlow Campus which currently enjoys an attendance of 1,000 students.
He wishes there were more incentives in post-recession Ireland to encourage enterprise. ‘A decade ago, a lot of people suffered in small operations across all sectors of industry and enterprise and we need to encourage people not to be afraid to take risks’.
Cllr. Moore is relishing his role as Mayor and is looking forward to the remainder of the term. ‘I find it extraordinarly humbling. It’s an honour to be asked to attend so many functions. The position of Mayor is held in very high esteeem throughout the town and District’, he said.