€30m yields just 26 extra college places for Travellers
A €30MILLION plan to increase Traveller participation in education has increased the number accessing third-level education by just 26, it has been revealed.
The figures, provided by new Education Minister Norma Foley, show that in 2013 there were 35 Travellers in the thirdlevel system. And this, despite the priority status of Traveller education, has increased to just 61 five years later.
Ms Foley noted there is ‘a current investment envelope of €30.9million allocated over the period 2016 to 2022’.
Whilst the Department of Education described the increase from 35 to 61 travellers as representing a 74 per cent increase, Green Party TD Patrick Costello, whose question unearthed the figures, said
‘Dramatic example of social inequality ’
they showed ‘in terms of educational equity for the Traveller community we have not made the leap.’
Mr Costello said that ‘at a point in the mid-Nineties a conscious decision was made and participation in primary-school significantly improved. The Junior Cert also witnessed a significant improvement, but we are not making the great leap to the Leaving Certificate and from there to college.’
Traveller numbers, he added ‘are the most dramatic example of social inequity in thirdlevel education. If you look at working-class participation we haven’t done very well and the scenario with Travellers is an extreme of this.’
Responding, Education Minister Norma Foley said: ‘Equity of access to higher education is a national priority for the department and indeed, the Government.’
The minister noted that third National Access Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education ‘identifies Irish Travellers as one of the target groups that are currently being under-represented in higher education.’
Ms Foley said a progress review of the National Access Plan in 2018 showed that increases are evident in participation in Travellers. But she conceded ‘there remains a significant challenge in achieving the target in respect of the Traveller target group’.
Ms Foley also claimed that ‘various initiatives under the strands of the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) funding aimed at increasing Traveller participation will assist in the realisation of the target.’
The initiatives include a Marino Institute of Education project where Travellers can access initial Teacher Education. This aims to secure the provision of direct entry places and continuous support for Travellers who have been identified as aspiring to become primary school teachers. Ms Foley also noted: ‘Seven Traveller students registered on the Tobar programme which helps Travellers to become teachers as on 30 September, 2019.’
Minister Foley said that ‘a number of specific Traveller projects are being supported – including the Travellers in Education project led by the South Cluster of HEIs which is promoting a whole-school approach to addressing Traveller participation needs.’
The PATH fund, she added, was confirmed as a permanent fund in 2020 and has a current investment envelope of €30.9m over the period 2016 to 2022, across the three strands.
Ms Foley said it as hoped ‘the numerous initiatives under the strands of the Programme for Access to Higher Education (PATH) funding aimed at increasing Traveller participation will assist in the realisation of the target and enhance understanding of the barriers that exist.’
The figures justify concerns expressed by the Traveller group Pavee Point during the formation of the current Government over the ongoing ‘tide of exclusion and marginalisation following severe cuts to Traveller education during austerity’.
Commenting on the new Government’s plans for education, Martin Collins co-director of Pavee Point noted: ‘We cannot lose opportunities for another generation of young Travellers who are struggling to overcome barriers in this area.’
‘Travellers struggling to overcome barriers’