Written answers

Wednesday, 8 March 2006

Department of Education and Science

School Completion Programme

9:00 pm

Photo of Pat CareyPat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the measures which are being taken by her Department to improve the level of transfer from primary to post-primary education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9656/06]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is determined to do all that is possible to ensure that every child gets all the opportunities and support they need to enable them to complete his or her education. To this end, we are providing increased resources for schools in disadvantaged areas by offering extra educational supports and services. Measures designed to improve school completion include the establishment of the National Educational Welfare Board in 2002 with a remit to monitor school attendance, help parents to get a school place for their child and run promotional campaigns on the importance of finishing school.

Working with parents to promote school attendance is an important part of the work of the home school community liaison scheme and, in addition to this, a key component of the school completion programme is developing strong links between primary and post-primary schools in disadvantaged areas. Under the new action plan for educational inclusion, DEIS, additional supports are being targeted at children in the most disadvantaged schools to encourage them to stay in school. The key principle of early intervention, to identify and help children at risk of leaving school early, is a major component of the plan.

Under DEIS, a continuing emphasis will be placed on the development of effective transfer programmes for pupils making the transition to second level, by building on the existing work of HSCL scheme and the school completion programme in this area. Initiatives such as familiarisation days and week long transfer programmes for new entrants to second level have been shown to have very positive results in helping children to make a smooth transaction to their new school and I am anxious that a strengthening of such programmes be prioritised under the new action plan.

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