Perception of Education and Training Board (ETB) schools in the Republic of Ireland: an issue of ideology and inclusion

Abstract

Education and training board (ETB) schools, previously called Vocational schools, were established in the Republic of Ireland in 1930. At the time of their genesis, these schools were initially prevented from offering students a pathway to upper secondary/university, leading to them being viewed as ‘second-rate’. Drawing on interviews with school personnel (n = 43) across 18 schools and ETB Education/Chief Executive Officers (n = 8), this paper explores participants’ views regarding the perception of ETB schools within the community. Participants in 10 schools believed that a negative perception of ETB schools persists, exacerbated by between-school competition. This perceived negative view is due to (1) ideological differences between the type of education valued versus the offerings of ETBs (2) perceived negative attitudes towards the inclusive/diverse nature of ETBs. Evidence emerged that minorities are becoming ‘ghettoized’ within certain ETBs. Based on the findings, we problematise legislation that supports parental choice, leading to increased segregation and between-school competition.

Keywords:

• vocational education
• education and training boards
• ideologies
• inclusion
• parental choice

View correction statement:

Correction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Orla McCormack is a Lecturer at the School of Education, University of Limerick. Her research interests focus on initial teacher education, particularly reflective practice and curriculum studies, as well as the values underpinning publicly managed schooling.

Joanne O'Flaherty is a Lecturer at the School of Education, University of Limerick. Joanne has researched and published in the areas of the moral role of the teacher and social justice education.

Mags Liddy is senior tutor for the MA in International Development at Maynooth University. Recently she was awarded the Nano Nagle Newman Fellowship in Education at University College Dublin. This research project aims to assess the needs of female teachers in Presentation schools in India and Pakistan with regard to capacity building for leadership in education.

Notes

1 ETB is used when referring to the current research and policies relating to the sector after 2013. VEC is used when referring to the sector pre-2013.

2 The Leaving Certificate is a high stakes State examination, taken in the final (sixth) year of second level school when a student is approximately 18 years of age. This exam acts as the main determinant of a student’s future study and career prospects.

3 Out of a total of 16 ETBs nationally.

4 A Home School Liaison Officer (HSLO) is a teacher who acts as a link between the school, the home and the community and aims to develop a partnership approach to children’s education.

5 S11 refers to school 11.

6 The Travelling Community are Irelands only indigenous ethnic minority and make up approximately 0.5% of the population.

7 Disadvantaged schools are identified under DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) scheme and are based, amongst other things, on level of education, employment and lone parents amongst the student population. Schools that are identified as disadvantaged (extremely/very/disadvantaged) receive additional funding from the government.

8 61% (n=120) of the post-primary schools awarded DEIS status in 2017/18 were ETB schools (www.education.ie).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Education and Training Boards/ETBI.