Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 1 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 1

Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.

Billy Timmins

Question:

88 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of students who left the education system on the completion of the junior certificate in each of the years from 1995 to 1999; the percentage of students these figures represent in each of these years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25172/99]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

An analysis of information from the post-primary schools database in respect of second level schools, and excluding external candidates from other centres, shows the following:

1	2	3
Year of examination	Number who sat Junior Certificate	Number of leavers (i.e. who did not appear on database the following year)
1995	66,691	2,5033.75%
1996	66,740	2,5073.76%
1997	65,439	2,5223.85%
1998	64,189	2,7894.34%

The data in Table 2 column 3 represent the proportion of leavers who sat the junior certificate and left school immediately afterwards. However, it should be noted that a significant number of pupils also begin senior cycle but leave school without completing it.

The analysis of leavers after the 1999 junior certificate examination will not be possible until all the returns from schools for the 1999-2000 year have been fully updated. This is under way at present.