Professor Aine Hyland has raised concerns regarding the introduction of a new lottery system for school kids applying for university places.

The former Vice-President of University College Cork admitted this kind of scheme could mean students do not have an incentive to do well, the Independent reports.

This is despite the fact Ms Hyland proposed the new initiative in a new report for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Currently, a points system is used to determine third level education places, but her new idea would see this replaced with a scheme in which anyone who meets a university's minimum-entry criteria is entered into a draw for a position.

In the opinion of Ms Hyland, this would establish a more "equitable system".

However, it has been suggested students will have no incentive to work hard, as they may not get into their first-choice universities, despite achieving high grades.

This comes after Education Minister Ruairi Quinn made the announcement yesterday (September 7th) that the Transition or Transaction conference on the move from second to third level education will take place on September 21st.

The gathering has been organised by the Higher Education Authority and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

Written by Donal Walsh

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