Ireland

The Republic of Ireland is located on an island with the same name in the northwest periphery of Europe. Ireland occupies more than 80 percent of the island, while the remaining part is occupied by Northern Ireland. Ireland has an extension of 27,000 square miles and a population of 4.5 million. Ireland was a British colony until 1922, when it gained independence and became a parliamentary republic. It has been a member of the European Economic Community (now EU) since 1973.

The modern Irish educational system can be traced back to British rule, when in 1831, Lord Stanley, chief secretary for Ireland, introduced the national educational system. The system was meant to be multidenominational; however, soon Catholics, Presbyterians, and Church of Ireland played a key role ...