Vol. 571 No. 3
69 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of pupils who leave the education system who do not transfer from primary level to second level; the steps being taken to ensure that they are retained in the education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21504/03]
The 2002 NESF report on early school leaving estimated that approximately 1,000 children do not transfer from primary to post-primary on an annual basis. My Department is currently completing analysis work on the development of a primary pupils database. A project team, overseen by a steering group, has been assigned to work on the development of this key resource, which will facilitate the collation of comprehensive data on transfer rates in the future. A number of programmes operate at both primary and post-primary level that are designed to tackle the problem of early school leaving. The Giving Children an Even Break programme provides additional financial and teaching supports for children in primary schools from disadvantaged backgrounds who are most at risk of educational disadvantage and early school leaving. Expenditure on this programme in 2003 will be in excess of €17 million.
A key role in this regard is also played by the home/school/community liaison scheme, which has been extended to each of the 311 designated disadvantaged primary schools in the country. This scheme helps parents to develop their skills as the primary educators of their children and also operates transfer programmes to help primary school pupils to make the transition to post primary level. Expenditure on this scheme will be in the region of €7 million in 2003.
The main programme within my Department for tackling the issue of early school leaving is the school completion programme, which was launched in 2002. This incorporates the learning, experience and best practice derived from previous early school leaving initiatives and assimilates the eight to 15 early school leaver initiative, ESLI, and the stay-in-school retention initiative at second level (SSRI). The programme is based on an integrated cross-community approach to tackling educational disadvantage, involving 82 projects (288 primary and 112 post primary schools), parents, communities and relevant statutory and voluntary agencies. It entails targeting individual young people of school going age, both in and out of school, and arranging supports to address inequalities in education access, participation and outcomes. Total funding of €23 million has been provided for the programme in 2003.
