Putting youth voices at 'forefront' of decisions

Local teen shares report on future of second-level education with Oireachtas members

- Róisín McManus -

A local teenager recently presented the findings of a report he completed - based on the opinions of young people in second-level education, to the Committee on Education and Youth.

Joe Quinn from Cavan felt inspired to gather youth opinions after attending a preparation session for Ireland’s national youth parliament - Dáil na nÓg, in March. The session focused on the theme of education as the Convention on Education, which seeks to shape the future of Ireland's education system, runs throughout the year.

Among the report’s key findings were that two thirds of students did not believe that one exam reflected a student’s true ability, more than half felt that students were not listened to and two fifths reported that school does not prepare them for adult life.

Joe recommended four key ideas; a greater use of continuous assessment, better mental health support in school, practical life skill subject choices - such as first aid and financial literary, and for Irish to be taught in a more conversational way.

“The main goal of appearing before the committee was that youth voices need to be at the forefront of discussions about decisions that affect them,” Joe told the Celt.

“Young people have a great insight into what they’re experiencing. I hope we see actions taken on this - it’s great to be up there but we need to see proper action.”

With a total of 156 survey responses from second-level students - including a mix of students from boy’s schools, girl’s schools, mixed schools and gaelcholaistí, the survey asked questions on mental health and stress, curriculum and learning, exams and assessment, school experience and student voices.

Joe was joined on the day by Harrison Rossiter McGuire, President of the Irish Second-Level Students’ Union, Dr Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, Dr Eddie Murphy, Principal Psychological Author of A Lust for Life schools wellbeing programme, and Sinead Keane, CEO of SpunOut.

The transcript of the meeting will be sent to Minister for Education and Youth Hildegarde Naughton and Joe is hopeful she will respond to their queries.

A third year student in St Pat’s, Joe was the first recipient of the Young Volunteer of the Year award at the Cavan Community and Sports Awards earlier this year. He is a member of Cavan Comhairle na nÓg, the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel and the Better Internet for Kids Youth Panel.