Business

Why we've got to adopt the Cody 'no excuses' mantra

Ciara Rooney, a student at Assumption Grammar School, addresses the Women In Business chair's lunch in Titanic Belfast
Ciara Rooney, a student at Assumption Grammar School, addresses the Women In Business chair's lunch in Titanic Belfast Ciara Rooney, a student at Assumption Grammar School, addresses the Women In Business chair's lunch in Titanic Belfast

AT the recent Pendulum Summit in Dublin, the key learning I took away was a quote from the great Brian Cody, manager of the Kilkenny senior team hurling since 1998. He spoke of hard work and passion, but was adamant that in his changing room there was absolutely no room for excuses.

So on the back of the annual Women in Business chair’s lunch, where we talked all things education, I think we must adapt and apply the manta “No excuses”.

A guest speaker at the lunch, Professor Deirdre Heenan of Ulster University, shared an analysis on Northern Ireland’s current political and economic situation, and explained specifically how the jewel in our crown, our education system, is severely under-funded.

She said: “The persistent under-achievement of our school children demonstrates the inability of the system to tackle fundamental problems. For decades we have been perpetuating an arrangement that isn’t fit for purpose.”

Her insights that highlighted that 41 per cent of children in non-grammar schools are entitled to free school meals compared to 14 per cent in grammar schools demonstrated how we need to end the distinction between schools.

Deirdre highlighted how the political division remaining in our society also means that only 6 per cent of our schools are designated as integrated, and I agree that we must use education as an instrument to balance out social inequality.

Our children need to be able to apply their learning and develop skills that will be crucial to future success. Core knowledge is essential, but being able to regurgitate facts in order to get good grades is not acceptable. We must end the focus on memorising and recall, and focus on evaluating, validating, creating and applying.

At the lunch, Ciara Rooney, a student at Assumption Grammar School, shared the pressures on young people within education.

She said: “The pressure on young people to prioritise school and achieve top marks at a time where so many other things can get in the way makes late-night cramming the norm for most young people, especially with part-time work commitments.”

The new Women in Business chair Nichola Robinson shared her shock that 40 per cent of young people in Northern Ireland leave school without five GCSEs and that in some more disadvantaged areas this figure rises to as high as 55 per cent.

She also agreed that curriculum change in primary education is essential to allow for the nurturing of creativity, confidence and curiosity of our children coupled with a culture of equality, innovation and enterprise.

Education is crucial for our economy and society. We cannot, and must not, remain silent on this.

So, is this how we want to educate our children? The answer from the room, following a panel discussion with Sara Long of the Education Authority, Jackie Henry from Deloitte and Tracy Meharg from the Department of the Communities was a resounding no.

My sense is that we all know we have a problem, and I am talking here about the Ministers, civil servants, teachers, pupils and parents.

And we probably all have a good idea what we need to do to fix it. So why is it not fixed? Excuses, excuses, excuses. Well, it’s time to do a Cody. No excuses allowed in this changing room - just change!

:: Roseann Kelly is the chief executive of Women in Business