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TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ago, a degree was a ‘big deal’. Fifteen years ago, a master’s degree was a ‘big deal’. In 15 years’ time, will having a PhD be the norm?
Over the last number of years, there has been an exponential rate of inflation in educational qualifications. The guiding principles of economics (competition, supply and demand, etc) have permeated our education system leading to an unsustainable increase in the level of qualifications among people in Ireland. For some, this is seen as a positive development: surely it is a great thing that so many young people are being educated, going on to university to get degrees and master’s?
But the positive rhetoric depicting an overall increase in the level of education among Irish people is presented uncritically without anyone stopping to consider the negative effects this is having socially. Don’t get me wrong, I have spent my entire life in education, as a student, teacher, and university lecturer. I will defend the value of education with my very last breath: I have seen its transformative, empowering, and socially progressive side. Yet there are deeply troubling facets of our exploding education sector.
A devaluing of education
One noticeably negative issue with drastic increases in the number of people pursuing higher education is, like monetary inflation, a devaluing of its ‘currency’. This is evident in certain sectors, for example ironically enough, education itself. Until 2012, teachers who held a master’s degree or a PhD received an extra allowance in their salary as holding such qualifications was firstly, relatively rare, and secondly, considered a high academic achievement.
Although the stoppage of this allowance was mainly due to budgetary refinements, it is indicative of the worth of master’s degrees in today’s job-market. Now, the majority of teachers qualifying or recently qualified will have already pursued master’s degrees with the hope that it will set them apart from the crowd, but unfortunately, the crowd all had the same idea. A master’s degree will still be an extraordinarily positive endeavour, but rather than setting one apart from the crowd, it is now necessary to keep up with them.
Moreover, this situation can end up contributing to classism. It is of course true that one of the most effective strategies to combat classism is through education – it can allow people of a working class background to enter industries commonly reserved for the middle classes. But the emphasis being put on education has now backfired in this regard and is actually contributing to a class divide.
How so? Well education is quite expensive. A master’s degree typically sets you back five or six thousand euros. Coupled with the €3,000 per-year degree you need to have before you can do a master’s, this means that often, only people of means can actually afford to compete in the world where you need a master’s degree to survive.
An unsustainable rate of growth
There a number of key factors which are contributing to this unsustainable rate of inflation in education. We might look to government policy, but the reality is that this situation is being driven by forces beyond the education system itself, particularly the job market. In any industry, employers will value traditional degrees from traditional universities, and favour higher grades. Add to this a deplorable job market and a relatively accessible education system, and there becomes an extraordinary pressure for young people to become as qualified as possible to obtain a job.
There is also a severe knock-on effect for teachers, as there emerges greater and greater pressures on them to help their students achieve high grades. This will involve finding the most efficient way to get the most amount of A grades in the Leaving Cert, often by offering students pre-prepared essays to regurgitate in their exam. The students who can deal with this fail to develop any critical thinking skills, ultimately bringing the standard of education down, whilst the students who don’t take to such rote-learning get left behind believing that they can’t achieve.
The employers, in turn, don’t get the same calibre of employees they used to, because as students they became too accustomed to being spoon-fed what they needed to do. The teachers in the meantime have had a breakdown from the pressure to get their students to achieve whilst struggling to find full-time employment despite having a master’s degree. The increasing levels of educational attainment are indeed to be applauded, but they cannot come at the expense of the quality and nature of education, and we need to be careful about this.
The supply and demand process is approaching its pinnacle in education. Demand is growing from employers for students with higher and higher levels of education. But there is only so high one can go before the whole system becomes devalued. Will it be necessary for everyone to do a PhD in 15 years’ time? And if so, where to from there? Two PhDs? Education is a great thing, of that there is no doubt. But we need to reflect on where it’s going, and how to make sure it doesn’t backfire completely. It is not that pursuing higher education should be discouraged – indeed the very opposite. But perhaps we need to look at the pressure the education system is putting on itself and whether a renewed focus on the nature of education and what we wish it to achieve is required.
Dr Gary Keogh is a researcher at the University of Manchester. Follow him on Twitter @g_keogh
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Since Mary Robinson we have had genuine people as our gaffer ,if we could do the same and rid ourselves of the entitled wasters that are ffg ,we might have a chance
@Robert Halvey: replace FF and FG with who exactly??
When you get criticised for mentioning 2 million Palestinians who are being starved to death by USA/israel you know you live in a sad society
@Kevin O Brien: No is starved, propaganda .
@Kevin O Brien: it’s worse in the Congo. Ukrainian ain’t great either. The man’s obsessed with Israel. It’s his master mind subject.
@Áine G: I don’t think English is your first language. Despite your name and obviously you have not done your due diligence.
Gwan the Mickey D! Triggering all the right trolls in one fell swoop! Ha ha ha!
We need aid here Mr Higgins in ireland the country you represent, many struggling with inflation, homeless is raising, rents can’t be afforded, any aid for us please, if there’s any left over for us of course.
@Darran Macken: first world problems
@My Ballsack Smells Bad: My comments on the little creep were removed. Communist Journal…
@Kieran Conroy: creep
@Darran Macken: aid isn’t needed. Equality is what’s needed here.
@My Ballsack Smells Bad: your name is repulsive and entirely unfunny. Sad.
@Wood Jackson: nothing funny about it, email address from 20 years ago in my teenage years
@Wood Jackson: Upset snowflake? Find a ‘safe-space’…Weak minded muppet.
@Kieran Conroy: Snowflake incelboy triggered much?
You need to be expired…
@Dolly Mounted – Norside Drag Queen: See you soon…
@Dolly Mounted – Norside Drag Queen: Just found out where you live big mouth…
@Dolly Mounted – Norside Drag Queen: Put the kettle on…See ya…
@Mic JHintl: tell that to hungry and homeless they will love to eat equilty to stay alive and warm.
@Darran Macken:
Despite our own difficulties, Ireland has always had empathy for others.
Our problems fade into obscurity when one is faced with the devastation in Palestine and other suppressed nations. Relatively speaking we are privileged.
@Kieran Conroy:
Well! Don’t you sound like such a charming individual.
I hope the next President will keep more to the spirit of his/ her constitutional duties and also that they are from the RoI.
@Vincent Alexander: Bertie ?
he will present himself that deluded unaccountable statesman. mark my words
@Vincent Alexander: Go on then… Give just one example of the president acting unconstitutionally. And don’t give me this “spirit” guff. The constitution is a legal document that has clearly defined parameters so it’s either constitutional or it isn’t. c’mon now with your one example please
@Vincent Alexander: In other words, toe the line with FFG and keep scthum about the goings on in the country and world around them… no thanks. If that’s the kind of “spirit” you want from a President, vote for the FFG puppet candidate.
@Darth O’Leary: When Higgins spoke out on homelessness he was border line whether was within his constitutional rights. His praise for Castro and his chummy letter to the president of Iran left a lot to be desired if he was so concerned about homelessness and democracy.
@Vincent Alexander: “Borderline” ? .. but not actually in breach of the constitution. The lads like you who don’t like what the democratically elected President of our country is saying have a hard time differentiating between breaking with convention and breaking the constitution… a convention as I’ve already stated which involves being a puppet for the government.
@Brian: Whatever about voting for a FF or FG puppet it would be a better choice than one controlled by the Árd Comhairle (aka The PIRA Army Council).
@Vincent Alexander: take that back.you haven’t a clue what your talking about
@Vincent Alexander: I already ignored your thinly veiled jibe in your opening remark about hoping its a candidate from the ROI.. I’m not gonna engage with it now. My response was to your comment, and this boring and inaccurate narrative guys like you try to spin, that he was in breach of his constitutional duties. Whether you want to accept it or not, the fact is, it’s simply not true.
@D C: Well, not even SF can deny that they have an internal praesidium,quite secretive, and that movement was nurtured by non democratic elements and actions. Some of which emerged within FF factions.
This state must not forget that this political/militarist combination displaced the civil rights movement and subjected both communities to 40 years of death, injury, and economic destruction, without any democratic or legal basis.
Beware.
@Brian: I didn’t say he breached his constitutional rights. I did say to keep more to the spirit of his duties as president. It’s the government that is elected to run the country not the president.
And yes I hope it is someone from the RoI that is elected.
@Vincent Alexander: Oh I’m sure you do.. and I’m sure you’ll be working overtime in the build up to the election to repeat that ad nauseam. The people elect a President to represent them. Personally I want that person to be independent of the government and not engage in this antiquated notion of being in the ” spirit ” of the office or their duties.. which basically means nodding along like some bobble headed dog in the back of a car. He’s been an outstanding President and I do hope people see that the role can be more important than merely a ceremonial one. I know that’s not want establishment lads like yourself want.. but tough.. the people will decide. Now off with ya and get your Bertie will make Ireland great again hat ready.
@Brian: If Ahern is on the ballot paper, “ya’s” second last preference and last preference will be reserved for Ahern and the SF candidate,
You might scroll down and note William Jennings’s comments on whether Higgins is adhering to his constitutional role or not.
@Vincent Alexander: That gowl?? If you’re relying on poor simple Wiilam for your information, then you really are grasping at straws. There is not a constitutional expert in the country that will state Higgins has breached his constitutional role.. because he hasn’t .. regardless of what simple Willam wants to make up in his Walter Mitty mind. If you want to believe a troll on the Journal ahead of every constitutional expert in the country.. be my guest. Just don’t expect to be treated with any respect when you ignore facts.
@Brian: actually it maybe. The President must Constitutionally speak for all the people of ireland, not just those who align with his political beliefs and opinions. In this regard such consistent anti Israel sentiment does not represent all the people of Ireland, clearly. Let’s see if you are so defensive of his/ her right to such speech when it is speech you do not agree with. If a President was to side with Israel, would you support his right to say this at official functions?
MAKE IRELAND IRISH AGAIN
@Science: Make Slogans Original Again
@Science: Dear God NO! I’ve lived through 54 years of my fellow Irish. I have been left clinging to the hope that other European societies have a higher percentage of citizens with genuine capacity. My fellow Irish citizens have taught me one thing. Under no circumstances treat people with trust. Always be prepared to have to resort to pushing people back, so they can’t do me damage, reduce further my options, or drain time and energy from me with no worthwhile pay-off.
@Numinous20111: Is that just the Irish that have those qualities?
@Science:
Off you go, back under whatever rock you crawled out from under.
He has plenty of space in his house.
November can’t come quick enough. He’s suckled at the public teat for more than half a century. Long past time headed off into obscurity.
Higgins is the Leprechaun king that will never leave until his pot of gold is brimming. Champagne socialist of the highest order and very much brings disservice to the function.
Michael D. Higgins continues his tradition of blatantly breaching the Irish Constitution by overstepping the boundaries of his powers and continually making left-wing political speeches. Articles 12.9, 13.3 and 13.7 clearly outline that the President is required to behave in an impartial manner and can only speak or engage in official duties with the permission of the government. It’s easy for Higgins to point fingers from his ivory tower in the Phoenix Park. The fact of the matter is that foreign aid does not work. Numerous studies, including ones done by the World Bank themselves, show that there is no correlation between aid and economic growth in countries. The IMF estimates that over $200 billion in aid has been siphoned off by African and Southeast Asian leaders to enrich themselves.
@William Jennings: lies, lies and more lies.. your grasp and interpretation of our constitution is pitiful.. and factually incorrect.. as is most of the BS you post on this site.
@Brian: he may be right about foreign aid not working…
@Brian: It seems you’re just a troll at this point, repeating the same nonsense under every statement that I post. I’ve just stated factual information about the Irish Constitution. Michael D. Higgins has breached Articles 12.9, 13.3 and 13.7 of the Irish Constitution, no matter what delusions you want to believe. There’s no grasping anything because the Irish Constitution is clear as day that Higgins must be impartial in nature and can only make statements or carry out his official duties with the permission of the government.
I forgot the little fella was still around. Good to hear from him.
@Michael Cummins: getting paid €750,000 of your tax money this old fella like you say not fit for purpose out with every single one of them
@Michael Cummins: he was gone off training Luke how to be a Jedi
Woke virtual signalling President commenting to look good on the world stage but ignored the harsh realities of Irish people are suffering from homelessness, badly damaged pyrite and mica damaged houses.
Give them your salary and savings then and stop cribbing
@Paul Hackett: You look like the sheriff’s cousin. Now keep the stitches small!!!!!!
Can’t wait to see the back of him. I’m no trump fan but I have to say if I was an American tax payer and say that workers of NGOs from other first world country were losing their ngo jobs I’d see his point. Poverty and war js an industry and ngos don’t want these things sorted out. Look at the money going to ngo staff based in Palestine over the years. The money isn’t going to the people in need
Get rid of this president position it’s not needed I say. Just another waste of taxpayer money.
It’s absolutely the opposite, irish begrudge their own country fellows but want to help the rest of the world. Woke mind virus is rife in Ireland, usual best boy in class approach leading to ultra political correctness coupled with extreme virtue signalling and we’re left with a nation chock full of the woke I’m alright Jack brigade.
I couldn’t listen to all that $h1t3
but I must have missed the bit where he must have criticised hamas for kidnapping and holding hostages deep underground whilst at the same time expecting foreign aid.
Also, it seems that USA has got no credit for all the aid they gave over many years, but get roundly criticised now for stopping it.
There’s only so much money available for foreign aid and it was OK giving it abroad 20 years ago.
Now the foreign people come here uninvited, so the money has to be spent on them here.
@Thomas Sheridan: He didn’t mention Israel either but it was inferred imo by his comments on withholding aid. Hamas are the creation of Mossad so maybe he should have said that
Unfortunately, it doesn’t really matter what the president states. No actions just more ‘we should do ..’ and ‘this should happen..’ with no real solutions. Same for most political statements these days.
@did you every wonder: he doesn’t have the power to change anything, but can give his personal opinion
@Kev Kerr: if it’s just an opinion then it doesn’t count anymore than our comments here.
So you mustn’t criticise the virtue-signalling leprauchan in communist extreme-left Oireland or the journal will remove your comments. Pathetic little country.
The 2 from yesterday evening in Dun Laoghaire need to be arrested for anti semitism. Gaurenteed they would be the first ones shouting racism. I for one welcome Israeli people in Ireland, most welcome
Privileged mid jet.
Shut up you little bol lox.
Another old age donkey talking absolute nonsense, Ireland needs radical change to get rid of all these morons representing us they don’t speak for us really they speak for themselves and their own high glory, they don’t give a crap about the taxpayer or anybody else including Mr. Higgins all paid too much for what no value for money whatsoever Out with every single onel of them putting in younger thinking for the future generations out with the old enough is enough
Well done President Michael D, you have done this state some service, and restored some pride in our race.
He should maybe first look I to what USAID stands for as well as what it was supporting. It isn’t a charity (as such) as the name would imply.
Probably best he goes back to Hogwarts:)
Wish the old ba$tard would be so concerned about his fellow Irish people as much as he is about non nationals. Ireland isn’t for Irish anymore. It’s the new bradford
@Kevin Daly: cùnt fùck shìt
Great President, and unfortunately increasing fly less and less representative of the Irish people, who seem to be degenerating into a bunch of ignorant fascist slobs.
He’s cheaper than 2 bike sheds and better value!
You know something? Higgins is gone. Baam!!!!! Flyin’ like a bird. Adios mòtherfùckér you were good
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