asked the Minister for Education if he will state (a) the number of children who sat for the Primary Certificate examination, the number who passed, and the number who failed, (b) the percentage of children who receive no further education after the age of 14 years, (c) whether he intends to increase the school leaving age to 15, and (d) the number of children in the year 1956-57 between 13 and 14 years of age who had not yet reached sixth standard.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National School Pupils.
Mr. Lynch
(a) The number of pupils who took the Primary Certificate Examination in 1957 was 37,450; of these 29,237 passed.
(b) I have nothing further to add to the information given to the Deputy on 1st May, 1957, when he was informed that it had been estimated that about 60 per cent. of children in the 14-15 age group and about 48 per cent. of those in the 15-16 age group were in whole-time attendance at recognised schools. It will be appreciated that these percentages take no account of children in attendance at private schools, commercial colleges, etc., in relation to which I have no information.
(c) As regards the extension of the school leaving age to 15 this appears to me to be a matter of providing increased educational facilities rather than extending compulsorily the age limit. The number of pupils in the 14-15 age group in attendance at full time courses of education has been increasing steadily year by year as the facilities have been increased. The fact that the 60 per cent. attendance to which I have just referred has been achieved is evidence of this. The facilities are continuing to increase and with them the percentage attendance. Therefore, I do not feel called upon at present to consider the compulsory extension of the school leaving age to 15.
(d) 14,905 children between 13 and 14 years of age in the school year 1956-57 had not reached the sixth standard.