Joint venture in Tallaght hopes to breach the barriers for third-level education

By Mary Dennehy

WHILE the third-level progression rate for young people in many parts of Dublin is over 80 per cent, here in Tallaght the average is 29 per cent – with just over four per cent of the local population in Jobstown and Fettercairn holding a third-level qualification.

However, a joint venture by Citywise Education in Jobstown and IT Tallaght is hoping to knock down the barriers to education experienced by young people in local under-served communities, levelling the playing field and opening up opportunities for the many dedicated and motivated students that want to access further education.

For seven years, Citywise Education has been running an educational support programme called the Fast Track Academy to help address issues around low educational attainment in West Tallaght.

With around 200 students taking part in the academy this year, across its 3rd, 5th and 6th classes, Fast Track provides an afterschool mentoring support to young people, alongside additional subject classes, supported study and opportunities to meet and learn from college graduates and professionals in the corporate sector.

Citywise Manager John Keogh told The Echo that since the programme’s inception more than 1,400 young people have passed through its doors, with 85 per cent of graduates tracked in the past two years going onto higher education – as a result of the support they received in their own school and the value added by the Fast Track programme.

Citywise and IT Tallaght are now working together and pooling their resources to build on the success of the programme, which aims to reach more students each year and also to support young people in their first year in college. 

However, in order for the new partnership to reach its full potential, the project needs €10,000 in corporate sponsorship.

According to Mr Keogh: “We need local business to help us develop this programme and support young people in getting to college and continue that support through their first year in college, which also poses its challenges, with drop-out rates in first year relatively high.”

Colm Downes, Access Officer in IT Tallaght, told The Echo that in order to maximise the benefit of the programme, they are seeking corporate sponsorship through the Social Innovation Fund.

Mr Downes said: “This is not charity, these kids are already motivated and working hard and we’re looking for funding to match students’ ambitions.

“We also want to provide students with a suite of activities that young people growing up in advantaged communities have, which will create a much more level playing field.

“Working with Citywise is a good fit as they have the local expertise and know what the needs of the community are, whereas we know the requirements for a student to get into college.

“Together, we are going to fill in the blanks between both stages and provide the resources needed to support young people in getting through the college door.”

He added: “IT Tallaght will be supporting students throughout the programme, with one aspect including taster workshops on different courses which will allow young people to make more of an informed choice, improving outcomes for them overall.”

Any business interested in supporting the Fast Track Academy email colm.downes@ittallaght.ie or john@citywise.ie