The beautiful and historic capital of Ireland, Dublin, is a lively cosmopolitan city which besides being a major center in European business, culture, arts, technology, and science, it is also a thriving technology and business centre, and a famous world-class tourism and convention destination. Also a recognized centre for both, academics and professional training, education in Dublin is a unique experience.

Ireland is a prominent destination to pursue academic studies or professional development, and is home to internationally-renowned universities and research institutes. Dublin is the primary centre of education in Ireland, with three major universities and several other higher education institutions. There are around 20 third-level institutes in the city. The education systems in the Republic of Ireland are largely under the direction of the government via the Ministry for Education and Science (currently presided over by Mary Hanafin, TD). The State provides several duties which include payment for the teachers, organizing the curriculum, hosting examinations, along with other centralized services for these schools.

At second level, the system of ownership is more complex again because schools owned by the Churches, the State and other voluntary interests lie on the same level. The church’s interests are represented by a Board of Management or Trust established by an order of the Catholic Church under the direction of a Bishop. Simultaneously, the State owned secondary school, generally known as ‘community or comprehensive schools’; they are wholly controlled by the State through the Department of Education and Science.

The education systems in Ireland are complex owing to the confusion of ownership, control and curricular assessment. While ownership of the majority of the primary and secondary schools being vested in the Catholic Church or the Church of Ireland church in the country, the religious and political aspects play a dominant role in forming the desired curriculum and guidelines. While the State decides the content of educational curricula with various interests, effective control is also emphasized by the Churches. . Primary and secondary schools adhere to the curriculum established by authorities that set them. A few denominational schools also exist like those organized by the Islamic communities, along with several research institutions and libraries that harbor the invaluable wealth of Irish Literature. These include the National Library of Ireland, the Chester Beatty Library and the Central Public Library.

Children in Dublin are not obliged to attend school until the age of six; however, 65% of four year olds and most five year olds are enrolled in the infant classes in primary schools in Ireland. Primary schools operate an eight-year programme, which consists of two kindergarten years (Junior and Senior Infants), then followed by classes 1-6. There are several schools in Dublin which include Elementary, Primary, Middle, High, Public, and Private schools. Given below are the names of the top-rated schools in Dublin:

• Susie Dasher Elementary School
• West Laurens Middle School
• Saxon Heights Elementary School
• Dublin High School
• Dublin Middle School
• Dublin Mennonite School
• An Leinbh Iosa Cailini

• The University of Dublin - the oldest university in Ireland, it dates back to the 16th century. Trinity College is its sole constituent college. It was established by Royal Charter under Elizabeth I. The university was closed to Roman Catholics until the Catholic Emancipation, which then saw the Catholic hierarchy banning Roman Catholics from attending it until 1970. Today, it is one of Ireland’s most venerable educational institutions.

• The National University of Ireland – Bearing a constituent college in Dublin, it is also the location of the associated constituent university of University College Dublin (UCD), the largest university in Ireland.

• Dublin City University (DCU) - the most recent university to be established, it specializes in engineering, business, and science courses, with high relevance and emphasis to the industrial sector.

• The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) - situated at St. Stephen's Green in the city centre, this medical school is a recognized college of the NUI.

The major colleges, technological institutes, art, design and media technology centers that comprise the system of education in Dublin are listed below as:

• Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT)
• Institute of Technology, Tallaght
• Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown.
• The National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
• The Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art
• The Design and Technology (DLIADT)
• The Gaiety School of Acting
• The Dublin Business School

• The Trinity College Dublin (the only college of the University of Dublin).
• The National University of Ireland (it has constituent colleges in Dublin, Galway, Cork and Maynooth).
• University College Dublin (UCD)
• Dublin City University (DCU)
• University College Cork (UCC)
• University of Limerick (UL)

countriesandcapitals provides you with informative details about Ireland and its capital city, Dublin.