Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Jan 1997

Vol. 473 No. 5

Written Answers. - Educational Qualifications.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

27 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils who left school in 1996 without having obtained formal qualifications; the number of pupils on Youthreach or similar programmes in 1996; the proposals, if any, she has to further reduce the number of pupils leaving schools without formal qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1749/97]

Minister for Education (Ms Bhreathnach)

The Report of the 1996 ESRI Annual School Leavers' Survey is not yet available. The report of the 1995 survey shows that of 67,500 school leavers in 1993-94, 2,200 or 3.3 per cent left school with no qualifications, and a further 10,000 or 14.8 per cent left school with only junior cycle qualifications i.e. 18 per cent left school without completing senior cycle.

My Department provided 2,000 Youthreach places in the vocational education committee sector for unqualified early school leavers in 1996 and a further 1,500 places approximately were provided by FÁS on this programme. An additional 450 Youthreach places in the vocational education committee sector are now being put in place. This will bring the combined provision under the programme to 3,950 places. Youthreach is targeted at young people in the 1518 year age group who have left school with no qualifications.

A fundamental objective in the White Paper: Charting our Education Future is to increase retention rates in education to completion of senior cycle to 90 per cent by the end of the decade. Progress in the achievement of this target is being made, and rates of retention have increased from 70 per cent in 1986 to 82 per cent in 1993-94.

My Department has a range of strategies in place to help prevent early school leaving. These include: the development of early start centres; the allocation of additional resources to schools in disadvantaged areas; the new Breaking the Cycle initiative; the home/school/community/ liaison scheme; curricular reforms to allow students to make choices relevant to their abilities and aptitudes; improvements in the quality of teaching and certification systems; the expansion of psychological and guidance services; support for junior and senior centres for travellers; the free book scheme, and alleviation of examination fees, for necessitous pupils; and the development of second chance education and training options through Youthreach and the Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme.