Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I do but I do not think one is exclusive of the other. We should have the view that higher education is open to people at any stage of their lives. We should not say of any individual that higher education will never be for him or her. I suggest we should model the funding of our system around that. I went through third level. I do not know what higher education is like now because I am not in it. I do not have a clue. I know what I experienced at the time and it was mixed. I found it very hard to make the transition from second level to third level, but I muddled through all the same. We hear people saying now that this is happening to them as well. Obviously, some people have the same experience as me. Teachers at second level are looking at moving away from the traditional imparting of knowledge. I hope this whole idea will help third level education. It is not just at higher education that this is needed. It is needed at all levels. It is clear that there will be junior certificate reform, regardless of the shape that reform takes. The NCCA engaged in consultation on how to introduce reforms as part of the attempt to have a curriculum based around the idea of critical thinking. When third level institutions are examining how to improve the content and quality of teaching at third level, do they engage with their students? Dr. Foley mentioned a survey. If this matter were being examined now, what could be done to improve it? Is there consultation? The NCCA definitely engaged in consultation on the reform of the junior certificate curriculum. Is there any corresponding consultation in the case of these reforms? That is just the question I have.