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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Early School Leavers.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

418 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide the most up to date figures on the drop-out rates among second level students; the percentage of these which come from schools that are classified as disadvantaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9450/01]

The ESRI-Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment 1998 early school leavers survey indicates that about 81% of students currently complete second level education. This figure is broadly in line with my Department's analysis of data in this area which indicates a completion rate of some 83% when account is taken of a range of factors such as inter-school transfer. As much as 44% of early school leavers attended schools which are classified as disadvantaged.

Given the vital significance of school completion for the life chances of our young people I am very conscious of continuing to press for improvements in the numbers completing second level. As the Deputy will be aware this is a complex and difficult issue and one not amenable to quick fix or easy solutions.

The correct approach is to advance on a number of fronts. In the first instance we must ensure that there is a proper legislative underpinning to school attendance. I see the recently enacted Education (Welfare) Act achieving this. We must also ensure that the curriculum provided in our second level schools meets the needs of all pupils. The leaving certificate applied and junior certificate schools programme are examples of measures which are making a real impact.

It is also essential that we assist schools in a focused manner in dealing with the problem of early school leaving. For that reason strategies are in place to encourage and support schools in retaining pupils to completion of senior cycle. In this regard the eight to 15 year old early school leavers initiative was introduced in 1998. One of its key objectives is to test models of response to the problem of early school leaving with a view to the integration of such models, after structured evaluation, into mainstream policy and practice.

The projects strand of this initiative involves 17 specific projects in 14 areas. The initiative was originally introduced for the school years 1998-99 and 1999-2000 and has since been extended for a further phase up to 31 August 2002. At present I am considering the expansion of the initiative to additional schools and areas. This expansion will be based on need and objective criteria on the basis of the identification of the primary schools which feed the post-primary schools which have the most severe problems with retaining pupils to completion of senior cycle.
In June 1999 the stay in school retention initiative at second level was launched in 58 schools. This marks a significant departure from traditional policy in that funding is allocated to targeted schools on the basis of plans which they were helped to design. This initiative was extended by a further 59 schools in June 2000. The selection of schools was based on an objective analysis of their retention rates. Accordingly schools with the most significant difficulties were invited to participate in the initiative. This has allowed resources to be targeted at schools through which they would reach the greatest number of young people at risk.
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