Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 11 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 1

Written Answers. - Educational Research.

John Bruton

Question:

263 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasons for the delay in completing the research, commissioned in 1998 from UCD, on the reasons boys do badly in exams; his views on whether five years is an unduly short period to complete such research; and the amount being paid to UCD for this research. [3239/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey):

As explained to the Deputy, in my reply to him on Wednesday, 29 January 2003, the research that was commissioned by my Department and carried out by the equality studies centre, University College Dublin in association with St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra and the statistics department of UCD, was a study of the relationship between co-education, single sex education and mathematics achievement. It was not about the reasons boys do badly in examinations. This issue was not part of the study.

The study, Co-education, Gender Equality and Mathematics Achievement, commenced in 1998 and was completed in 2002. The results of the study are currently being prepared for publication. I expect the publication to be launched in May-June 2003. The cost of the study was £315,486.69, €400,584.