One signal

Only 27% of girls surveyed in single-sex schools have access to Leaving Certificate computer science, compared with 60% in mixed-sex schools, the 2026 I Wish survey finds.

The Irish Examiner reports that 60% of girls surveyed identified a lack of confidence in their STEM ability as a barrier, up from 55% in 2025 and 50% in 2024. The findings point to an education and skills gap with a direct connection to who gets to shape tomorrow’s technology. Access to classes and confidence are not the same problem, but neither is fixed by telling girls simply to be more ambitious.

Discuss: Should schools prioritise equal access to technical subjects, or invest first in the support that helps students feel able to pursue them?

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