Join us: Support the Alternative Education Fund 2027
Join us on the journey to improve education in Ireland. Get in touch!
Get in touch
Despite the government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education, educational inequality perseveres in the Irish education system. While education in Ireland works for most, it does not work for everyone.
There is an unfair playing field in Ireland when it comes to education due to socioeconomic, cultural and other barriers.
Students who start secondary school in Ireland do not complete their Leaving Certificate.
Students in DEIS schools are 9.3% less likely to stay in school.
The Alternative Education Fund
Education requires more than a ‘one size fits all’ approach. Alternative education models are not outside mainstream systems — they interact with and support them.
The Alternative Education Fund aims to support innovative projects that provide educational opportunities to students who are disengaged — or at risk of disengaging — from mainstream education.
The Alternative Education Fund will:
- Fund initiatives that address the root causes of educational disadvantage.
- Support diverse learners through flexible and creative approaches.
- Promote inclusive pathways to educational achievement.
- The Alternative Education Fund will provide support to up to 9 projects over 4 years with cash grants ranging from €180,000 to €400,000.
Rethink Ireland’s Track Record in Education
We already have the experience and the evidence. We now need the ambition to act on it.
Since 2016, Rethink Ireland and our partners have invested €36.9 million in education with a reach of at least 651,000 people. We have supported 127 projects that make learning more widely accessible and inclusive, especially to those from vulnerable or marginalised communities.
We’ve also commissioned independent research and evaluations to assess the impact of our investments. This includes an academic report published in April 2025 on three funds (Education Fund 2017-2020, Youth Funds 2018-2021 and Children and Youth Funds 2019-2022). Learn more here.
Invested in Education
People supported through education projects
Education project backed
Why Wellbeing Matters
Evaluation of Rethink Ireland Education & Youth Mental Health Funds 2017-2022
Academic evaluations of these funds were conducted by the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre at the University of Galway. This was the largest study ever conducted on alternative education in Ireland to date.
These individual evaluations resulted in a Composite Report, highlighting key learnings and outcomes. There is also a short Youth Report which is a summary of the Composite Report written for young people who are the driving force behind these funds and this research.
As per this report, a total social value of €145m was created from an initial €18m investment — approximately €8 of social value for every euro invested.
Young participants on the projects said they most valued outcomes such as self-confidence, maturity, resilience and leadership skills.
The report evaluated 19 projects over six years, demonstrating not just cost effectiveness but the transformative impact of the alternative education model.
Case Study
Get involved
We are seeking anchor donors who are willing to invest to build this transformative new fund opening in 2027.
Join us on the journey to improve education in Ireland. Get in touch!
padraic@rethinkireland.ie
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suzanne@rethinkireland.ie
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caitlin@rethinkireland.ie
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