Rape Crisis Centre warns Junior Cert girls to be alert during celebrations

TEENAGE girls are most at risk during Junior Cert celebrations, the Rape Crisis Centre has warned.

Figures from the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit based in Dublin's Rotunda Hospital show the highest number of sexual assaults and rapes occur on the night of the exam results.

As 61,000 students prepare to party, rape counsellors have warned girls not to let anyone take sexual advantage of them during the celebrations.

"Teenagers should realise that a sexual act without the other person's consent is a sexual assault or a rape," said a spokesperson for the National Rape Crisis Centres. The RCC spokesperson emphasised that parents need to inform their daughters and sons to be clear about the idea of consent.

"They, and indeed, everyone has a right to say No to any unwanted sexual attention or advance and their decision is always to be respected." Meanwhile, business leaders have expressed concern after a significant increase in the number of students who failed European language papers.

The numbers getting As in higher level Italian dipped from over one in three last year to one in six this year. The percentage of As at ordinary level was slashed from 10.3% to just 2%. Ordinary Spanish level results were also low. The percentage of fails more than doubled to 12.5%, while the number of students getting an A in the paper was also cut by half.

In French, students performed slightly better at higher level. Yet, over 6% failed. At ordinary level, the level of As is slightly up at 1.6%. The performance in German was similarly dismal.

While the percentage of As at higher level is up slightly, the numbers getting B grades is down. The number getting an A at ordinary level is cut by half and 11.3% failed. Performance in maths also gives cause for concern, while one in 10 failed history at higher level. In business studies, the percentage of As and Bs at higher level dipped.