IBEC has released a new policy document on education, in which it said that it would actively discourage part-time work for second level students in the junior and leaving certificate exam years.
It cited figures from the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) which showed that exam-year employment is to to the detriment of the students, increasing their likelihood of dropping out of school and reducing their potential to progress to further study after leaving school.
The same study also showed a substantial increase in the number of second level students working part-time over the past ten years, having increased from 30% in 1994 to 70% in 2001.
It also proposes a joint industry and government initiative which would provide all students with laptop computers within the next five years. IBEC claims that only 22% of second level classrooms currently have computers.
IBEC also proposes the establishment of a forum between the business sector and the teacher's unions on the future of education, in order to create a dialogue between educationalists and the business sector. It suggested the abolition of fees for third-level part-time courses, particularly for those who are taking part in third level education for the first time, or who are on lower incomes.
"The Irish Government currently spends over €5 billion per annum on our education system, an increase of over 100% in the past seven years," said Turlough O'Sullivan, IBEC director general. "Despite this increase in spend, many people say education is underfunded."
