Vol. 424 No. 2
7 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education if, in the light of the conflicting evidence on the performance in State examinations of girls in co-educational schools, he is prepared to commission a special study on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
32 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Education if, in the light of the conflicting evidence on the performance in State examinations of girls in co-educational schools he is prepared to commission a special study on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
63 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education if, in the light of the conflicting evidence on the performance in State examinations of girls in co-educational schools he is prepared to commission a special study on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
90 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education if, in the light of the conflicting evidence on the performance in State examinations of girls in co-educational schools he is prepared to commission a special study on the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 32, 63 and 90 together.
I assume the Deputy is referring to a recent study in regard to performance at the certificate examinations of students in single sex schools as against those in co-educational schools. The study in question was based on pupil performance in 17 schools in the Limerick city and county area involving 1,242 pupils. It dealt, therefore, with a very small sample and acknowledged a number of factors, other than type of school attended, which influence examination performance.
My Department are at present examining the study and propose, in addition, to carry out their own analysis of student performance in co-educational and single-sex schools with a view to arriving at more definitive conclusions in the matter. Pending a more detailed analysis, I would not be satisfied that any conclusion can be drawn at this stage.
May I ask the Minister who in the Department of Education will carry out this analysis or will the Minister engage the services of outside experts? Does he believe that it is desirable to have in the composition of such a study group people from both sides of the spectrum? On the one hand there is a considerable body of research which seems to point to the lack of attainment on the part of girls in co-educational schools, while on the other hand there is conflicting evidence in relation to the social advantage of educating boys and girls together.
The study will be carried out under the auspices of senior officials in the Department, perhaps at assistant secretary level. I will take on board the Deputy's suggestion and ensure that the Department are provided with the best possible professional expertise on a consultancy basis. In regard to co-education, virtually all our national schools are co-educational. Some 60 per cent of pupils at second level and all third level pupils attend co-educational schools. Therefore, virtually 80 per cent of all students are in co-educational establishments. We are well on the way to having a complete co-educational structure throughout the State and I believe we should continue to press ahead with this objective.
If the analysis shows that girls are victimised and penalised by being in co-educational schools would the Minister consider providing a better pupil-teacher ratio for co-educational schools to offset that disadvantage?
The jury is out on the question of whether or not there is disadvantage in attending co-educational schools. There is an equal amount of evidence to suggest that there is no such disadvantage. I would not favour having a different pupil-teacher ratio for co-educational schools from that which applies to other schools.
In view of the fact that a survey by the University of Limerick of 70 schools showed that principals in single sex schools report fewer discipline problems than those in co-educational schools, will that matter be examined by the study group?
I will ask them to examine that aspect of the matter.
