Junior Cert students are no quitters

IN THE Irish Examiner of July 2, doubt was cast on the results of the OECD Programme for International Assessment (PISA) in which Irish 15-year-olds ranked fifth of 27 OECD countries in a test of reading literacy in 2000.

In an article by education correspondent Niall Murray, it was incorrectly stated by an unnamed spokesperson for the National Adult Literacy Agency that one-fifth of students leave school before taking the Junior Certificate (and, by implication, did not take part in the PISA assessment).

However, studies conducted by the ESRI put the figure of those leaving school before taking the Junior Certificate exam at about 3%, and show that 80% continue in school as far as the Leaving Certificate.

Since PISA was administered in schools three months before the Junior Certificate, it can be concluded that it covers about 97% of 15-year olds in Ireland. This is not to deny that there is a problem with adult literacy in Ireland, and that it would be desirable if more students could be encouraged to complete second-level schooling.

However, it seems unfair to undermine the results of PISA on the basis of incorrect information.

Gerry Shiel,

Educational Research Centre,

St Patrick’s College,

Drumcondra,

Dublin 9.