Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their contributions. I have read all of their opening statements. Education is about two things, namely, the personal benefit for one's own well-being and the social good. I would like to address both. On the first, the whole question of equity of access has been very well covered in many of the opening statements, in particular by Dr. Marcus-Quinn, Dr. Leahy and Dr. Venkat.

I sat on the Joint Committee on Gender Equality. I am very conscious of the gender inequalities when it comes to STEM. I am also very concerned about the level of teaching, or if that is the wrong word, then the level that courses are at for junior certificate. Professor Hyland said she agreed with what had come before us previously from the science teachers organisation. Dr. Leahy also mentioned this idea that the exam-based system was masking some of the failures in the system and that inquiry-based learning was dropping out. When it comes to science, innovation and computer technology, it has to be about inquiry because many of the questions and many of the facts are unknown at this point and it is really about developing a mindset. I have heard that Ireland has a very low level of innovation in the SME sector, especially when compared with others in Europe. I wonder if that lack of innovation is reflective of the education system, particularly around the sciences. I would like to get the witnesses’ views on that matter.

I have been the chair of the Home Education Network. I also served as chair of a school board of management. Somewhere in the middle lies the answer. The sense of inquiry and the love of learning that we get with home schooling matched with the mentors, who would have a very full understanding of what sciences are. That is the sweet spot and I do not feel the education system has hit that, particularly when it comes to STEM. Perhaps that is why girls are not engaging with it to the extent that they should be.