asked the Minister for Education the basis of the recent decision not to permit children attending national schools to enter secondary schools unless they have attained the age of 12 years on the first day of August immediately preceding the new secondary school year; and he is aware that many children will lose a school year as a result of this new rule.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Entry to Secondary Schools.
159.
Mr. O'Malley
The recent proposal not to permit pupils attending national schools to enter secondary schools unless they have attained the age of 12 years and completed sixth standard in a primary school is based on educational grounds. Under the previous arrangements many pupils were being enrolled in secondary schools before they had completed their primary education and were terminating their secondary education at an age which educationalists generally now regard as being too early. From the educational standpoint there is, accordingly, no question of their losing a year.