OVER 70% OF STUDENTS FEEL THAT THEIR OPINIONS ARE IGNORED BY ADULTS – BT SURVEY

- BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition reveals key insights into issues affecting students

School students are today being called on to enter the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition by Monday 1st October and showcase their ideas for a better future to the public.  In a new survey commissioned by the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, the clear message was that students desperately want their opinions and ideas to be heard.  Over 200 students, aged between 12 and 19, from across the island of Ireland participated in the survey which showed that more than 70% of students feel that adults today do not value their opinions.

When asked whether they thought school was harder for their parents or themselves, 65% of those surveyed maintain that school today is harder for students with an increased amount of pressure to get an excellent exam results and to secure a place in university.Over three quarters of the students surveyed believe that schools in urban areas have a distinct edge over their rural counterparts citing funding, facilities and access to universities as the main advantages.

The students were asked to recount recent events from their community or country which made them proud. Recent sporting successes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games, individual county GAA triumphs and the fact that Derry~Londonderry is the 2013 City of Culture were some of the reasons for creating a sense of pride in them.A number of students indicated that they were proud of Ireland’s ability to cope with the economic downturn.

Other notable findings include:

• 52% of students cited the jobs crisis as the main obstacle standing in the way of their chosen career• 57% of participants selected medicine, pharmacy or dentistry as their first choice career preference• 59% of students maintain that money is the biggest barrier to going on to 3rd level education with 33% of those surveyed citing getting the grades required as an obstacle to attending university• 80% of those surveyed selected ‘online’ as the main source they receive their information from above books (9%), television (7%) and radio (2%)*• 66% of participants  disclosed that they are not encouraged down a route of entrepreneurship with the traditional professions still largely endorsed• 50% of students do not feel part of the community where they live

Peter Morris, Corporate Services Director, BT Ireland commented: “As organisers of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, we’ve seen firsthand the phenomenal response from young people when they are given the platform to make a contribution.  For that one week a year in the RDS (Royal Dublin Society) they can bring their ideas, energy, creative thinking and problem solving skills to bear at the exhibition.  With so much potential to offer, and with over 70% feeling that they are not listened to, we should really examine what channels we are providing for our young people to give their views on issues that will impact them now and for many years into the future.”

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, which takes place in Dublin from January 9th – 13th 2013, is organised by BT Ireland, and is supported by a number of valued partners including Analog Devices, Elan, Intel, the Department of Education, Matrix, University of Ulster and RTE.  For more information on the exhibition, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com.

ENDSFor media enquiries, please contact:

Lyn Sheridan or Kat Murray at Aiken PR 02890 663 000Lyn@aikenpr.co.uk / Kat@aikenpr.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• 203 STUDENTS AGES 12 – 19 COMPLETED THE SURVEY• Male: 42.4% : Female: 57.6%• 27 counties participated in the research• 39% of those surveyed were from Dublin• 19% of participants were from Northern Ireland

About BT

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