University aptitude tests criticised
THE new aptitude tests for medicine are of dubious educational value, according to a prominent UCD academic.
Dr Kathleen Lynch, head of equality studies, has also strongly criticised the introduction of aptitude tests for choosing mature students at both UCD and UCC.
Not alone were the tests of doubtful value, they were also a new barrier for lower-income students to higher educational entry, she told the Teachers' Union of Ireland weekend conference on education.
She said that the tests for medicine were not based on the Leaving Certificate curriculum but were run by an Australian business operation selling tests that were entirely unregulated by the Irish State.
"Proficiency on the tests requires practice and 'insider' knowledge that is only available to those who can buy it," she said, referring to the growth in preparatory courses for the tests.
"The Government has allowed institutionalised injustices in education to persist over generations; it expects schools to supplement basic educational services with so-called 'voluntary contributions' that they know poor parents cannot afford and it allows schools for the privileged to charge fees in addition to being funded by the State.
"We need to recognise the immorality of inequalities in education that consign so many students to a sense of failure on leaving school," added Dr Lynch.
Fergus Finlay, chief executive of Barnardos, questioned whether we care enough about the future generation, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
"Very soon we will start operating a new prison in Ireland called Thornton Hall. In its first decade of operation, Thornton Hall will cost the taxpayer €1bn to run and operate.
"In its second decade, Thornton Hall will be full of kids that we neglected while we were spending that €1bn. If we want to build a society that doesn't need Thornton Hall any more, we should be investing a fraction of that €1b in early intervention and prevention in the lives of some of our children," he added.
- John Walshe Education Editor
Irish Independent
