Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Education and Science

Early School Leavers

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael McGrathMichael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1096: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of students who dropped out of second level education in Cork city and county prior to sitting the leaving certificate for each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1602/10]

Photo of Seán HaugheySeán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The latest Retention Report published by the Department of Education and Science provides data on the cohort of pupils who entered the first year of the junior cycle in 2000 and 2001 most of whom completed their senior cycle five to six years following the year of intake. This is the fourth such report tracking pupil retention and the trend is showing yearly improvements in retention rates - rising from an estimated 81 to 85% for entrants to second level in 1996 and 2001 respectively. It is compiled from data on the Department's Post Primary Pupils Database and tracks students in State aided schools (with an estimate of those attaining their Leaving Cert in private institutions). It does not take into account students pursuing other educational pathways such as Youthreach or apprenticeship training. Retention rates of pupils in Second-Level School Cohort can be found on my Department's website - www.education.ie under Statistics.

Average retention rates to leaving certificate for Cork City and Cork County for the 2001 Entry cohort were 77.1 and 83.0% respectively. Data relating to the cohort of pupils who entered the first year of the junior cycle in 2002 and 2003 will be available later in 2010. Note that these rates do not take into account pupils who leave the State-aided schools including publicly funded fee-paying schools and move to non-aided second-level education providers.

My Department has adopted a broad-based approach to tackling early school leaving. This includes the work of the National Educational Welfare Board, established under the Education Welfare Act, 2000, to monitor attendance and help to get young people back to school. Enhancing attendance, progression, retention and attainment are central elements of DEIS. Targeted interventions include the School Completion Programme, Home School Community Liaison services, visiting teacher service for Travellers, additional funding for pupils at risk of early school leaving and alternative curricular options.

From 1st September, 2009, a single co-ordinated School Support Programme involving the Home School Community Liaison Scheme, the School Completion Programme and the Visiting Teachers Service for Travellers has been integrated under the National Educational Welfare Board. This development puts in place structures to facilitate closer integration of the services at local, regional and national levels, increase effectiveness and help bring about real and meaningful improvements in services, to confront in a cohesive way, the underlying causes that impact negatively on the school life of children, particularly as they relate to school attendance, retention and attainment.

My Department has also widened the range of curricula available to students by promoting the Junior Certificate Schools Programme, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, and the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme in addition to the traditional Junior and Leaving Certificate curricula.

I would like to assure the Deputy that we have greatly intensified our efforts in recent years to keep more young people in school and I will continue to prioritise further progress in this area.

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