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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Third Level Students.

Question:

36 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the progress, if any, he has made to establish a database to track dropouts at Regional Technical College and university level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15025/98]

The reasons for dropout are complex. There is no simple explanation. Factors such as motivation, capabilities and suitability are all involved. There must also, of course, be a balance between completion rates on programmes and maintaining the necessary, objective standards. The challenge of maximising completion rates, consistent with maintaining appropriate standards is a matter, in the first instance, for individual universities, institutes of technology and the National Council for Educational Awards.

Information is not readily available on the number of students who fail to complete third-level courses at the institutes of technology and universities.

In relation to the university sector, the Higher Education Authority carried out a study in 1994 which indicated a completion rate of 81 per cent for those students entering in 1989-90. This rate is a high completion rate by international standards. The Authority has recently commissioned the Educational Research Centre, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra to undertake a further detailed study in this area In addition, the Commission on the Points System has engaged a team of researchers to undertake a feasibility study on the predictive validity of the points system in relation to the intake of students into higher education.
A number of initiatives have been taken in the technological sector to assist the compilation of a data base on attrition-drop-out rates and to develop appropriate strategies to address the issues.
These are as follows:
Approval has been given for the commencement of an action/research project including the appointment of a project officer to determine and measure student attrition and retention in the technological sector and to develop simultaneously an action programme based on the findings as they emerge.
The institutes of technology have set up a group to provide solutions on a national basis to the varied and complex reasons for attrition in both the short and long-term. The group is currently preparing a menu of initiatives which will be available to the institutes in the next academic year. In this context each institute will examine and attempt to address its specific retentionattrition difficulties.
A system has been developed for a statistical monitoring of uncertified departures from certificate and diploma programmes and is being applied on a pilot basis in some institutes.
Other studies, in both individual institutes and in groups of institutes, have also been carried out with a view to developing actions to minimise uncertified departures.
A comprehensive study on the guidance services in institutes of technology was carried out with assistance from the National Centre for Guidance in Education.
A study of students attending four colleges who entered college for the first time in the 1996-97 session, is ongoing. Data has been collected from three colleges and is currently being analysed. It centres on comparisons of three student groups — those who progress to second year; those who drop out without completing examinations; those who fail examinations. It is expected that the report will be finalised in September.
A computerised management information systems project is currently in progress as part of the ongoing work to establish modern financial and administrative systems for the institutes of technology. The project has the aim of supporting the efficient and effective administration of the institutions and providing both the institutions and my Department with timely and accurate management information for a variety of purposes. This new system will provide enhanced information on attrition and the results from the initiatives above will be fed into this project.
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