|
|
students: mind the gap year.
- Article from:
-
Irish Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland)
- Article date:
-
March 5, 2008
|
Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2008 Independent News & Media PLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
students: mind the gap year
Critics suggest that it is simply a doss year, an extended holiday which is usually paid for by the Bank of Mum and Dad.
Its advocates, on the other hand, argue that it makes students more mature, giving them a sense of independence and a chance to see something of the real world before they go on to third-level education.
Although the gap year is not nearly as popular here as in Britain, where up to a fifth of college-goers take one, there are signs that it is now becoming a fashionable option for Irish school leavers.
A growing number of Irish teenagers, particularly in affluent areas, are following the example of Prince William, ...