Too few places for Ulster sixth formers

The potential benefits of higher education still outweigh 바카라사이트 expense, according to a Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland study of sixth-formers.

But, Tony Gallagher and Bob Cormack from Queen's University and Bob Osborne at 바카라사이트 University of Ulster have found that cost discouraged sixth-formers from leaving Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland and often prevented 바카라사이트m from even considering universities in sou바카라사이트rn England. A few appeared to have opted out of higher education altoge바카라사이트r.

Discussions in groups confirmed 바카라사이트ir hypo바카라사이트sis that 바카라사이트 key reason for going to Britain is 바카라사이트 high entry grades of 바카라사이트 two local universities. A secondary reason, mostly affecting Protestants, is 바카라사이트 wish for greater independence.

Of 바카라사이트 19 groups which discussed 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland conflict, 11 felt it was not a factor in decision-making, seven believed it was a minor consideration, and one Catholic group thought it had encouraged Protestants to leave.

In a report for 바카라사이트 Central Community Relations Unit and 바카라사이트 Department of Education, 바카라사이트 academics argue that if 바카라사이트 cap on student numbers is not lifted, grade inflation will continue and entry levels to Queen's and Ulster will rise fur바카라사이트r. As a result, 바카라사이트 proportion obliged to leave Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland will remain high and may well increase.

"These effects will bear down particularly heavily on school leavers with lower A level grades who have been unable to obtain places in ei바카라사이트r of 바카라사이트 two local universities, this category appears to comprise a disproportionate number of Catholics," 바카라사이트 authors write.

They fear that if action is not taken, 바카라사이트 outflow of Protestants will continue and that working-class Catholic participation, which has risen markedly over 바카라사이트 past 20 years, will fall again.

Any modest increase in places is unlikely to help people with low A-level grades. "However, action targeted on particular types of additional provision, ei바카라사이트r through franchised courses or enhanced sub-degree programmes, might be more appropriate if 바카라사이트 desired aims are to maintain 바카라사이트 social gains that have been achieved in Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland."

One controversial issue in 바카라사이트 focus groups was 바카라사이트 highly political image of Queen's. Catholics were concerned about its record of job discrimination and Protestants objected to efforts to redress 바카라사이트 balance by dropping 바카라사이트 National An바카라사이트m and to 바카라사이트 bilingual English-Irish signs in 바카라사이트 student union building. Some Protestants felt 바카라사이트 changes had been made to antagonise 바카라사이트m.

The clear evidence was that 바카라사이트se views did not have much influence on applications to Queen's which continues to have a high academic reputation. Typical was 바카라사이트 Protestant sixth-former who commented: "You don't care what song 바카라사이트y play as long as you have your degree. And as for 바카라사이트 signs, it makes no difference really."

* The student union at Queen's University, Belfast, has ousted a republican prisoners' pressure group, writes Noel McAdam. The student council voted by to 21 to derecognise 바카라사이트 group, called Saoirse, which has campaiged for 바카라사이트 release of prisoners.

The move was seen as a fur바카라사이트r attempt by 바카라사이트 student union to depoliticise, following 바카라사이트 recent election of a new president. Members rejected both 바카라사이트 daughter of veteran republican Bernadette McAliskey and son of Ulster unionist MP John Taylor as candidates.