Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2004
19 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on recent statistics which show that boys are much more likely than girls to give up their secondary school education to take up a job; if she will increase funding for school retention initiatives; the amount allocated to school retention initiatives in primary and secondary schools in 2003 and 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30512/04]
View answerI am aware of recent statistics to which the Deputy refers.
My Department's commitment to tackling early school leaving is reflected in the national anti-poverty strategy, the National Action Plan Against Poverty and Social Exclusion, 2003-2005, and the latest social partnership agreement, Sustaining Progress, which contains a special initiative on tackling educational disadvantage, Literacy, Numeracy and Early School Leavers.
My Department's approach to addressing the issue of early school leaving comprises legislative and curricular reforms as well as preventative interventions.
The Education (Welfare) Act 2000, which was fully commenced on 5 July 2002, established the National Educational Welfare Board as the single national body with responsibility for school attendance. To discharge its responsibilities, the board is developing a nationwide service that is accessible to schools, parents-guardians and others concerned with the welfare of young people.
With regard to curriculum reform, my Department's strategies have included widening the educational experience available to students. These strategies aim to achieve a greater level of inclusiveness in curricular provision for both boys and girls through such programmes as the junior certificate schools programme, JCSP, the leaving certificate vocational programme, LCVP, and the leaving certificate applied, LCA.
The school completion programme aims to have a significant positive impact on levels of pupil retention in primary and post primary schools and on the numbers of pupils who successfully complete senior cycle. The focus of the programme is on young people between the ages of four and 18 years and aims to develop local strategies to ensure maximum participation levels in the education process. The programme is based on an integrated cross-community approach to tackling educational disadvantage, involving primary and post-primary schools, parents, communities and relevant statutory and voluntary agencies.
A total of €23 million and €23.5 million was allocated to the school completion programme in 2003 and 2004, respectively. A total of €24 million is provided for the programme in the Estimates for 2005.
My Department is currently finalising a review of educational disadvantage schemes with a view to building on what has been achieved to date, adopting a more systematic, targeted and integrated approach and strengthening the capacity of the system to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged children and young people. The future position in relation to the expansion of retention schemes will be clarified in the context of this review.
