Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his position in relation on the transition year programme; if his Department believe in the universality of transition year; if so, the way his Department promotes this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11968/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Transition Year is available to all second level schools but it is the board of management of each individual school that decides whether to offer the programme and if offered it decides on the number of places available to students on such programmes, depending on available resources. If offered, it also decides whether it is optional or compulsory for its students.

The Transition Year has many benefits for students in terms of experiencing a wide range of educational inputs and their personal and social development. However, research has found that it may not be suitable for all students. Retention to the end of senior cycle is our priority and some students may not wish to spend 3 years in senior cycle. Thus it is important that boards of management consider the choices that are available taking on board the educational needs of their students. My Department provides specific teaching resources and additional grant aid to schools that offer the Transition Year programme. An additional teacher allocation is given to each school offering the programme. Schools in the Free Education Scheme also qualify for payment of a Transition Year grant of €95 for each student participating in the programme.

Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any studies have been conducted by his Department regarding the benefits for students who undertake transition year versus those who go straight from the junior certificate into the senior cycle. [11969/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) undertook a study for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment in 2004 "The Transition Year Programme: An Assessment". The findings of this study would have been informed by their previous research in 2004. The 2004 study found that students who take Transition Year differ in a number of respects from those who do not take the programme. On average, students who took part in Transition Year achieved higher Leaving Certificate exam grades and were more likely to go on to higher education than non-participants.

First, students receive greater exposure to the kinds of subjects they will take for Leaving Certificate. Second, while being a year older does not seem to enhance academic performance the emphasis on self-directed learning and the perceived consequences of participation for maturity may enhance the study skills of students. Third, research has indicated higher academic performance among students who have had positive interaction with their teachers and a number of students reported improved relations with teachers as a result of taking part in the programme.

A number of negative findings were also highlighted by the ESRI. It was found that students who took part in the TY were more likely to work part-time in Senior Cycle and this tended to cancel out the performance gains associated with programme participation. The ESRI also noted that students in predominantly working-class schools where the programme was compulsory did not achieve higher Leaving Certificate grades than their counterparts who had not participated in TY. It was also noted that students in schools where Transition Year was compulsory tended to have higher drop-out rates than their counterparts in schools where it was not compulsory - because they may be unwilling participants in the programme.

Transition year is found to have definite academic benefits for students and is thought by the majority of principals nationally to have a positive impact on student development. I am currently awaiting the findings of the Irish Second Level Students' Union study of Transition Year which explores the students' experiences. My Department has funded this study.