Written answers

Thursday, 4 December 2008

Department of Education and Science

Third Level Examinations

4:00 pm

Photo of Chris AndrewsChris Andrews (Dublin South East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 249: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the failure rate among first year students in third level colleges; the cost to the State for repeat exams; the failure rates for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44517/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Higher Education Authority (HEA) does not collect information on the numbers of first year students failing their year-end exams. While it is not possible therefore to provide an overall figure on failure rates, certain information is available on overall numbers progressing from first year to second year in the university sector by comparing the cohort sizes across successive academic years. In the 2006/07 academic year, there were 18,090 first year students on Level 8 courses in the seven universities. In 2007/08, there were 16,140 second year students on Level 8 courses in the seven universities.

Although this indicates a gross progression rate of 89%, it does not mean that the failure rate is 11%. For example, students may have transferred to other higher education courses, opting to sit first year again, but never actually sitting an exam before their transfer. Other students may have taken time out from their studies to work or travel. The real failure rate is therefore likely to be significantly below the 11% figure.

Information on progression rates is not readily available in respect of the Institutes of Technology and insufficient data are available to present figures for the previous five years for the university sector. As a result of new data collation arrangements, future years will provide sufficient data for this analysis.

In relation to costs, my Department allocates recurrent funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for disbursement to the universities, institutes of technology and other institutions. It is a matter for each institution to determine how the block grant received from the HEA is allocated internally. Under the terms of my Department's Free Fees Initiative the Exchequer meets the tuition fees of eligible students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study. A student who repeats a year of study is not eligible for a repeat of free fees except in the exceptional circumstances such as certified serious illness. The third level institutions may autonomously determine the level of fees to be charged in any case where the Free Fees Initiative does not apply.

Third level Institutions also charge students a Student Services Charge which is levied to defray the costs of normal examinations, registration and student services. This charge does not cover the costs associated with the setting, administering and correcting of repeat examinations offered by institutions as a second chance option for students. In such cases the institutions determine the fee to be paid by students for repeat examinations.

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