asked the Minister for Education the regulations of her Department regarding the right of pupils to repeat a year of study in post-primary education and the regulation applying to (a) secondary schools (b) vocational schools (c) community schools and (d) comprehensive schools; and the arrangements regarding repeat students if a pupil transfers from one sector of the post-primary system to another.
Written Answers. - Post-Primary Education Repeat Students.
171.
1. In Circular Letter M57/87 which issued in August 1987, the authorities of post-primary schools were advised that pupils who have sat the leaving certificate examination may be enrolled as recognised pupils to repeat the final year of the leaving certificate course in 1987-88 subject to the payment of a repeat course fee of £100 per pupil and a repeat examination fee of £100. Pupils whose parents or guardians are the holders of a current medical card will be exempted from the payment of the course fee and will only be required to pay the standard examination entry fee of £33 on production of the medical card for noting by the school authorities.
2. Except as provided for in paragraph 1 above a pupil may not repeat any year of the second level course, save in exceptional cases such as prolonged absence due to ill-health.
3. As these conditions apply to all secondary, vocational, community and comprehensive schools the situation does not change when a pupil transfers from one section of the post-primary system to another.