Vol. 471 No. 7
238 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Education her views on recent report that 20 per cent of pupils are leaving post-primary schools without adequate qualifications; the proposals, if any, she has to address this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21511/96]
Data from the 1995 ESRI annual school leavers survey shows that, of 67,500 school leavers in 1993-94, 3.3 per cent left with no qualifications; 14.8 per cent left with junior cycle qualifications; 18 per cent left without completing senior cycle.
The White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future, indicates that one of the main objectives of educational policy is to encourage and facilitate as many students as possible to continue in full-time education after the end of junior cycle. A major objective is that the percentage of 16 to 18 year olds completing senior cycle will increase to at least 90 per cent by the year 2000. The 1995 ESRI annual school leavers survey indicates significant progress in retention rates, with 82 per cent completing senior cycle in 1993-94 compared to 70 per cent in 1986.
Since taking office, I have persistently pursued a range of strategies designed to counter underachievement and early school leaving, particularly among those who are disadvantaged.
These include major curricular reform, increased financial support for second-level schools with additional financial support for schools categorised as disadvantaged, the book grant scheme for necessitous students, alleviation of examination fees for necessitous students, concessionary teaching posts, expansion of the home-school community liaison scheme, links programmes between disadvantaged schools and third level institutions, support for junior and senior centres for travellers and increased investment in in-career training of teachers. In addition, second chance education and training is provided through the Youthreach programme for unqualified early school leavers and by the vocational training opportunities scheme for long-term unemployed.
