Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012
450. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide details for the past five years of the total number of schools each year that did not enter any students for the higher level leaving certificate maths exam; the names and addresses of the schools and the school's DEIS status if any. [38738/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are some 723 post primary schools. A total of 691 schools had candidates entered for Higher Level Mathematics in 2012. There were 696 in 2011, 711 in 2010, 697 in 2009 and 699 in 2008. Note that in some cases while a school may be willing and able to offer Higher Level Mathematics, there are no students who wish to take the course or the examination at Higher Level.
While the State Examinations Commission holds details of the centres in which candidates sat examinations, it would not be appropriate to disclose this information. Disclosure of a detailed breakdown of these schools, including their DEIS status, could lead to the compilation of league tables. Section 53 of the Education Act, 1998 allows for the refusal of access to data which could enable league tables on the comparative performance of students or schools to be determined. I am opposed to the publication of such tables as they provide an unbalanced and very limited indication of a school's performance.
