The announcement by two leading universities in the Republic that they are review the criteria for entrance for students from the North has been welcomed by Derry Sinn Fein Councillor Logue.
Trinity College, Dublin.
Cllr Logue, SF education spokesperson, said news that both Trinity College and University College Dublin (UCD) were to review their entrance criteria was a “welcome step” in bringing equality of access to all students on the island of Ireland.
She added: “At present, most pupils in the North sit three A-Levels and a top grade in these subjects are awarded 150 points.
“However, the most popular and prestigious courses require a minimum of 500 points making it impossible for the majority of students from the North to gain entry to Southern universities.
“Sinn Féin have longed called for a review of the clearing systems that will allow students from the North to access universities in the South on an equal basis as their southern counterparts and vice versa so that students from the South can access universities in the North.”
She concluded: “The announcement is a welcome move in bringing about a more equitable system that will allow students across the island to access the courses they need to pursue their chosen careers.”
