Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, has opened the application process for membership of the Convention on Education. Children, young people, parents and guardians, school staff and early years educators can now submit an expression of interest form online to apply to become members.
The Convention on Education is a once in a generation opportunity for children and young people, parents, school staff and early years practitioners and wider society to help shape Ireland’s education system for decades to come. The Convention will be chaired by Professor Anne Looney and will meet four times over weekends in March, May, September and November 2026 to discuss key issues about the future of education. The names of Convention Deputy Chairs and Secretariat were announced in November.
The Convention will comprise 150 people across 4 groups:
The focus of the Convention will be on primary and post-primary (secondary) schools as well as the transitions from early years into primary, and from post-primary into further and higher education. The Convention’s agenda will be informed by a national conversation due to commence early in the new year. It will look at what is working well, what challenges need attention, and what changes may be needed in the years ahead.
Recommendations from the Convention will inform a new long-term Department of Education and Youth strategy for schools in Ireland.
It is anticipated that there will be significant interest in membership of the Convention. There will also be opportunities for individuals, groups and anyone who wishes to share their thoughts on the future of education to get involved in the national conversation.
Children and young people, their parents and guardians and school employees and early years educators can apply to become members of the Convention. Expressions of interest will also be circulated through schools from today.
The expression of interest form will remain open until 16 January 2026, when a process will begin to select participants.
Further information on the Convention on Education can be found at www.gov.ie/educationconvention.
