Ireland Must Do Better for its Young People

Eurostat Themes (August 2016):    Internet Use of Young Europeans 

The most recent Eurostat figures published this morning make for grim reading from an Irish perspective. Whilst young Irish people (16-29) score well as a percentage of those who participate in professional networks such as LinkedIn (19%, compared to the EU average of 13%) and ‘uploading self-created content to any website to be shared’ (61%, compared to the EU average of 48%), the figures make for disheartening reading from there. Notably, Ireland scores:

• last in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds reading online news and magazines (44% Ire vs 66% EU vs 94% Finland)
• 3rd last in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds posting opinions on civic or political issues via websites (6% Ire vs 16% EU vs 30% Netherlands)
• 5th last in the EU for % share 16-29 year olds using online learning material (16% Ire vs 25% EU vs 54% Finland)
• 6th last in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds seeking online health information (36% Ire vs 49% EU vs 79% Finland)
• 6th last in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds interacting with public authorities online (39% Ire vs 49% EU vs 94% Estonia)
• 6th last in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds playing networked games with others (22% Ire vs 27% Finland vs 30% EU vs 41 % Denmark vs 51% Iceland)
• 7th last in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds taking part in online consultations or voting on civic or political issues such as urban planning and signing petitions (4% Ire vs 9% EU vs 21% Finland)
• 13th place in the EU for % share of 16-29 year olds creating websites or blogs (10% Ire vs 15% EU vs 47% Finland) 

For me, there are a number of issues* at play. Certainly, the availability of broadband in rural areas and pockets of disadvantage is an issue. Scandinavian countries are streets ahead of us here. But the issues are deeper-rooted. The arrival and spread of CoderDojos is a most welcome development. However, the meaningful integration of ICT skills in Ireland’s education system – at primary and secondary levels in particular – still eludes us, despite the impact of early adoptors within our teaching profession who have fought the good fight for so long.

Certainly the Framework for Junior Cycle, the energy of the JCT, the NCCA and the Inspectorate, and the thinking of the education partners has afforded a great opportunity for the meaningful embedding of ICT skills at second level in the coming years. This opportunity must be grasped by the teaching profession, properly resourced and sustainably grown.

Of particular concern to me, as an educator, is the way Ireland lags terribly behind in terms of young people accessing online learning material; academic journals and the like. Also, some may scoff at this statistic, but what does it say about how interconnected we are as a people if only 22% of 16-29 year olds engage in networked gameplay? Iceland’s score of 51% is quite high, and one could glibly argue that a more ‘homogenous’ society would likely produce such a result anyway. But such a thesis is to miss the point: what’s wrong with Irish society that we don’t talk to each other, much less play online? Do we have a more obvious ‘class system’ than we care to admit? Is enough emphasis placed on collaboration in schools? Maybe there's little of importance in that snapshot statistic, but it's worth the ask.

Quite apart from ICT issues, the fact that Irish people between 16-29 come last in terms of reading online news shocks, but does not surprise. Is it fair to say that there is a connection between the low levels of online news reading, interaction with public authorities and taking part in online consultations or voting? Aside from the 2015 Marriage Equality referendum, have people in this age-bracket voted in such numbers before? Why? Do we value what our young people have to say? Moreover, do we equip them with the skills to frame a cogent argument and enable them to think creatively for themselves in our education system? How well does government and the civil service respond to the needs of young people? I suppose what I’m trying to ask – basically – is does our country take our young people (and investing in them) seriously?

*These are just random thoughts composed upon reading these statistics. They are intended to provoke thought, not to act as a definitive guide. Thank you for reading!   FM