Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 1

Written Answers. - Transition Year Programme.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

385 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has undertaken an assessment as to whether the compulsory transition year insisted on by some second level schools may contribute to the drop-out rate among second level students from disadvantaged backgrounds; if his attention has been drawn to the view held by some teachers that bypassing the compulsory transition year will ensure that more students in disadvantaged areas obtain their leaving certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15883/03]

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

My Department recommends but does not require that all schools should offer a transition year programme. Some schools, in deciding to offer the programme, require all pupils to take the programme in accordance with their curriculum provision across the school. In such schools, representing about 30% of the 510 schools offering the programme in the current school year, the programme is compulsory.

My Department has not undertaken any research to ascertain whether the compulsory transition year programme insisted on by some second level schools may contribute to the drop-out rate among second level pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. However, research findings, from a longitudinal study undertaken by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, a few years ago, indicated that where the programme is offered in schools designated as disadvantaged the students, especially boys, are likely to gain extra benefits in terms of improved grades at leaving certificate level.