Eric J. Byrne
Question:119 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the current number of early school leavers; and the number in each of the years 1990 to 1994. [9194/95]
Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.
Kathleen Lynch
Question:131 Kathleen Lynch asked the Minister for Education the current number of early school leavers; the number as a percentage of age cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9249/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 131 together.
The data sought by the Deputies are provided in the following table:
Estimated numbers of early school leavers (without a Junior Certificate)
|
School year ending |
Estimated number of leavers |
|
1990* |
3,600 |
|
1991* |
4,200 |
|
1992 |
4,100 |
|
1993 |
3,600 |
|
1994 |
4,100 |
* Data refer to leavers without an intermediate or day vocational certificate.
It is estimated that approximately 6 per cent of the age cohort leave school without a junior certificate.
My Department has a range of measures in place to help prevent early school leaving including; early intervention measures to provide additional support for young people at risk including initiatives in areas such as pre-schooling, remedial and home-school-community links, co-ordination with other agencies, guidance and psychological services, special services for travellers and Youth Encounter Projects; curricular reform to adapt second level curricular to the needs of a wider spread of ability levels and backgrounds; second chance education and training through the provision of Youthreach for unqualified early school leavers; and improved quality of education through investment in in-career development of staff, including school management, and strategies to cope with learning difficulties and disadvantage, counselling skills etc.
In keeping with its commitment to address the problems of truancy and early drop-out, the Government has appointed Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Currie, with special responsibility for this area. The Minister of State has established a task force to address these and other related issues.