Ms Emer Neville:

The ISSU believes we need to allow students ways to gain points through other forms of recognition, such as extracurricular achievements, when applying to further and higher education, while ensuring the opportunities to take part in such additional activities are available in an equitable manner to all students. This would provide students with a greater understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and allow them a better insight into what they might want to study at third level education if that is the route they choose to progress towards. Additionally, we need to greatly increase the number of university admission places through access routes while normalising PLC courses, apprenticeship programmes and other forms of further and higher education.

The ISSU believes our goal should be to reduce the competition of the points race and provide support to guidance counsellors in helping students choose the right pathway through education and a better understanding of what their strengths and weaknesses are.