The Million Euro Decision: How Education Changes Lives, by Paul Mooney

The Million Euro Decision incisively diagnoses the causes of educational disadvantage in Ireland. From crèche to university, we see how educational practices nurture or hinder a student’s potential. Stretching beyond the education system, the book shows how education is heavily influenced by a range of cultural factors within families and local communities.

The book illustrates how educational disadvantage acts as an anchor on social progress. At the extremes, 95 per cent of students in some middle class communities go to third level, while only 5 per cent from some disadvantaged communities complete their educational journey. It looks at why each year 1,000 twelve-year-olds never even make it into secondary school, and why 9,000 students quit before completing the Leaving Certificate. For those who make it to college, the book highlights the very high student drop-out rates, a result which has a huge negative effect in terms of future employment. Critically, the book provides a comprehensive set of recommendations, supported by research findings, in a radical overhaul of the education system, and offers a new model to cater for future generations.

Individual student and community stories peppered throughout the text bring a simple message alive: educational inequality can be overcome if we have the political will to tackle it.

“I’m fascinated and challenged by this book. Fascinated by the way it brings together so many facts about educational disadvantage. Challenged because I’m aware of how intractable the issues seem. It makes for very uncomfortable reading and that’s a good thing” – Áine Hyland, Emeritus Professor of Education, University College Cork

“Showing how lives are blighted by educational disadvantage, this book grabs your attention from the opening page. The data collected locally, along with the detailed international research, offers a clear path forward.” – John Walshe, former adviser to the Minister for Education and Skills

“The Million Euro Decision should be made compulsory reading for everyone working in the education system and for anyone whose kids are going through the system.” – Mark Morgan, Cregan Professor of Education and Psychology, St Patrick’s College