A new initiative aimed at supporting students of DEIS schools access third level education has been launched. Power 2 Progress is a programme from University College Dublin (UCD) in collaboration with Zurich Ireland (Zurich) and with support from the Z Zurich Foundation and Rethink Ireland.
Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools (DEIS), the Action Plan for Educational Inclusion, was launched by the Department of Education and Skills in May 2005. The plan focuses on addressing the educational needs of children and young people from disadvantaged communities, from pre-school through second-level education (3 to 18 years).
Power 2 Progress
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris TD said:
“This is a really exciting initiative aimed at supporting students in secondary school to achieve their full potential. Over 700 students across Dublin, Wicklow, Kildare and Wexford have signed up, with plans to expand into Laois and Offaly. As part of the programme students participating in Power 2 Progress will have access to a new laptop to help them remote based learning and engagement.
“Third level is for everyone and programmes like this ensure students can realise their full potential and find the right career for them. I really want to commend everyone involved for pursuing this important piece of work.”
As part of the programme, UCD student teachers will provide additional educational support to participating students through weekly tutorials over the course of their senior cycle.
The programme will facilitate onsite visits to UCD and Zurich offices based in Ireland to encourage students to pursue further education and professional careers. As part of the project, Z Zurich Foundation will also fund a 4‐year PhD to generate a much-needed evidence base to inform on future educational policy in Ireland.
Minister Harris added:
“The aim of this important work is to ensure nobody is left behind and we can improve literacy and numeracy rates, to improve progression into third level and remove barriers to accessing education and employment.”
The Power 2 Progress programme will be run by Judith Harford, Professor of Education, Deputy Head of the School of Education UCD.
Find out more about the programme.
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