The children of farmers have the highest participation rate of all socio-economic groups in higher education. This is according to figures released by the HEA yesterday.

The children of farmers have a participation ratio of 1.66, or 166%, which is three times higher than the national average. The non-manual sector has a participation ratio of 0.23, or 23%.

The participation of farmers’ children also comes in greater than that of higher professionals, who have a participation ratio of 1.19 or 119%, and the lower professionals, who have a much lower ratio of 0.48, or 48%.

Such figures demonstrate, once again, that farming families place a higher priority on third-level education than all other socio-economic groups. The ratios are calculated by comparing the number of 18- to 20-year-olds from each socio-economic background with the number of 18- to 20-year-old new entrants to higher education from that same socio-economic background. Some of the percentages are over 100% due to the use of census data in the methodology.

Data released yesterday also shows that the west of Ireland is sending the highest proportion of young people to third level. There is a third-level participation level of 60% among 18- 20-year-olds in counties Galway, Leitrim and Mayo (see map above). Laois and Donegal have the lowest participation rate at 41%.