Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 7 Mar 2001

Vol. 532 No. 2

Written Answers. - Third Level Drop-out Rates.

Brendan Howlin

Ceist:

63 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the retention rates of first year students in the institutes of technology and the completion rates in each of these institutions; his views in this regard; and the proposals he has to commission an in-depth study. [6977/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

At the request of my Department, the council of directors of institutes of technology commissioned the Education Research Centre, Drumcondra, to undertake a comprehensive study on the issue of non-completion in institute of technology courses. The Dublin Institute of Technology also conducted a similar study which is currently under consideration. The above studies are being funded by my Department.

The first part of the ERC study on non-completion was submitted to my Department by the council of directors of institutes of technology on Friday, 23 February 2000. This part of the study comprises a quantitative analysis of first-time entrants to the various institutes of technology over a four-year period commencing in 1995. The study shows an overall completion rate of 57.39% across the sector.

Based on the information supplied in the ERC study, the following table (Figure 1.1) outlines the completion rates in each of the institutes of technology. The data exclude the Dublin Institute of Technology where a separate report is being compiled.

cp8,9>Figure 1.1

Variation by Institute – Completion Rates

Name of Institute	Variations byInstitute
	%
Athlone	55.53
Carlow	53.00
Cork	67.38
Dundalk	41.84
Galway-Mayo	58.58
Letterkenny	39.45
Limerick	54.70
Sligo	58.03
Tallaght	54.29
Tralee	60.61
Waterford	67.14

The second part of the study, which is currently under way, will focus on a qualitative analysis of students who leave courses in institutes of technology without graduating. The council of directors expect the second part of the study to be completed later in the year.

I am committed to tackling the problem of non-completion and I would like to see the question of attrition becoming a core focus for all our educational institutions. In view of this, I have asked the Higher Education Authority to convene a national seminar involving both the educational institutions and the social partners to consider the issues raised in this report and in the recently published Higher Education Authority report.