Frances Fitzgerald
Question:20 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Education and Science the retention rates at third level he predicts into second year for those who commenced college in autumn 1998. [15520/99]
Written Answers. - Third Level Retention Rates.
The reasons for drop out are complex and a range of factors operate in all institutions to give varying rates of retention. The detailed research required to enable the development of accurate predictors for progression from first to second year is still at the stage of being undertaken as I have set out below. Pending receipt of the findings of this research it is not possible to make a prediction on the percentage of students who will progress from first year to second year in third level colleges in the autumn of 1999.
In relation to the overall retention rate in the university sector, the Higher Education Authority carried out a study in 1994, which indicated a completion rate of 81 per cent, which is high by international standards, for those entering in 1989-90. The Authority has commissioned the Educational Research Centre, St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra to undertake a further detailed study in this area and a report should be available by the end of 1999.
At my request, the Council of Directors of institutes of technology has commissioned the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, to undertake a comprehensive study on the issue of non-completion in the institutes, which will consist of a quantitative analysis to track a cohort of students over a four year period, and a qualitative study of students who leave without graduating.
The research project team has visited each of the institutes of technology and is developing a standard format to which institutes of technology can respond to the variables that influence progression or retention for each course.
Three institutes – Dundalk, Carlow and Tralee – have completed a pilot study on retention rates for first year students and the results have been made available to all the institutes. A summary of the report on the pilot study has been made available to the Department. While the estimated non-completion rate of first year students across the three institutes was 37 per cent, no single factor explains this overall rate. A range of academic, social, personal, financial and institutional specific variables seem to contribute to early leaving and/or failure. These findings will inform the National Committee on Retention.
In addition to this I am supporting and promoting a number of initiatives in the technological sector to assist the compilation of a data base on attrition or drop out rates and to develop appropriate strategies to address the issues. The Council of Directors of the Institutes of Technology has established a National Committee on Retention with representatives from each institute to focus on maximising success rates for institutes students. The committee is currently assembling a profile of current good practice in relation to retention across the sector. The profile will be made available to all institutes of technology.
Institutes of technology continue to introduce a range of initiatives and support services seeking to improve completion rates. These include induction and orientation programmes, course information services, tutor services and systems designed for the early identification of at risk first year students.
As part of a two-year funding initiative to tackle educational disadvantaged at third level, I have announced that I am providing £1.5 million over the period 1999-2000 to address the issue of non-completion of courses in the technological sector. This funding will support and complement the programmes already in place and will have regard to the recommendations of the committee in relation to the funding of action projects or programmes both short and long-term based on best practice. I am also actively addressing the provision of science and technology in second level schools, a provision of particular importance in preparing persons for successful participation in technical courses at third level.
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.