Chapter 9

Education and Training

9.1 Highest Education Level Achieved

In response to Question 37, which asked participants to indicate the highest level of full-time education completed, the responses indicated that 30% or almost 1 in 3 women received Primary education only (see Figure 17).  A further 28% attained Intermediate or Junior Certificate standard, while 27% completed Leaving Certificate, or its equivalent.  Only fifteen percent went on to any kind of Third level education - only one woman had continued into Postgraduate education.

These low levels of educational attainment, especially at or below Junior Certificate are worrying in terms of the escalating emphasis on the so-called 'knowledge society' and the influence of education and training on employment prospects.  These findings  must be urgently addressed by any government or agency seriously interested in reducing poverty and social exclusion for the women of Inishowen, both now and in the future. 

9.2 Most popular Further Education courses

That the women who took part in this survey are willing and committed to furthering their education cannot be denied - seventy four percent have taken part in one or more courses since leaving school.  The most popular course (taken by 54%) was "Computers", followed by "Personal Development" (see Table 26).