The Global Educations First Initiative has three main priorities which are to

expand access to education, improve the quality of learning and to foster global
citizenship. The first priority is to put every child in school by doing that their prospects
for health and prosperity expand exponentially. The second priority is to make the
school attendance open of pathways and discovery. Lastly the third priority is about
interconnecting global challenges and being able to use our education to connect with
the rest of the world.
Ireland takes their education very seriously and are dedicated to making sure
that the children get good schooling. Ireland was recently ranked ninth in the global
league table. The ranking was done by looking at 40 countries and comparing
performance in skills such as reading, math, and science as well as graduation rates
from second and third level (Donnelly, 2014).
The education system in Ireland is made up of 3 levels of education. The levels
of education are pre-school and primary schooling, post primary/ second level,
vocational education, and third level education. The first level of schooling is pre-school,
children do not have to start attending school until the age of six but most parents enroll
their child by the age of five. In 1995 they launched an early start program with the aim
of providing a formal structure intended to be closely connected with the primary
schools. Primary schools is on the first level as preschool, the curriculum was
established on the advice of the national council for curriculum and assessment.
The next level of schooling is the second level which is provided by different
types of post primary schools. Which are secondary, vocational, community and
comprehensive schools. Secondary schools are privately owned and managed. In most

cases the trustees are religious communities or boards of governors. Vocational schools
are established by the State and administered by vocational education committees.
Community and comprehensive schools are managed by boards of management of
differing compositions (Citizens information, 2013).
The third level of schooling is made up of a number of sectors. The university
sector, the technological sector and the colleges of education are substantially funded
by the State. In addition there are a number of independent private colleges and seven
universities.
The education is compulsory for children in Ireland from the ages of six to sixteen
or until students have completed three years of second level education. Ireland takes
pride in their education and holds their students to a high standard. They want their
children to get an education of some sort. Most of the schools in Ireland are state
funded so it is free for the children to attend. Just like the UN Secretary and Generals
Global Initiative their priorities are the same as Irelands putting the children first,
improving the quality of learning to foster and globalize. In the graph below you will see
percentage that go onto a higher education.

Resources
Donnelly, K. (2014, May 15). Our education system now ranked ninth in global table Independent.ie. Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://www.independent.ie/life/family/learning/oureducation-system-now-ranked-ninth-in-global-table-30294631.html#
Overview of the Irish education system. (2013, January 22). Retrieved March 25, 2015, from
http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/the_irish_education_system/overview_of_the_irish_e
ducation_system.html
Priorities. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://www.globaleducationfirst.org/priorities.html
(n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://irelandnow.com/education.html