News at One Increased education around the Holocaust will be introduced in Irish secondary schools
Jan 27, 2026
Nathan Barrett, principal of Stratford College in Dublin with a Jewish ethos, discusses Holocaust education in Irish schools. He explains current curriculum coverage and who studies it. He outlines government-funded virtual Auschwitz-Birkenau tours to improve access. He also talks about whether Holocaust education should be made universal for all students.
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Holocaust Is Taught But Depth Varies
- Irish students already encounter the Holocaust in junior cycle history because it is a specific learning outcome about genocide.
- Senior cycle coverage varies since history becomes optional, so depth depends on students' subject choices.
Bring Memorials Into Classrooms Virtually
- Use virtual, educator-led tours to bring Auschwitz-Birkenau into every classroom and remove access barriers.
- Funding and partnerships can eliminate geographical and financial obstacles to first-hand learning.
Ensure Every Student Experiences It
- Move Holocaust materials from 'available to all' to 'experienced by all' to ensure every student encounters this history before leaving school.
- Consider stronger implementation so students most in need are not missed if resources remain optional.