School dropout rates highest in rural areas

SCHOOL dropout rates are highest in rural areas, according to figures obtained by the Irish Examiner.

Based on figures supplied by the Taoiseach in the Dáil from the 2006 Census, Westmeath has the highest proportion of 15-year-olds who are no longer in education — recorded at 8.5%.

The Irish Examiner revealed last month that the latest Census figures show the national dropout rate among all 15-year-olds has more than doubled in a decade from 3.1% in 1996 to 6.3% last year.

The breakdown by local authority area, provided to Fine Gael’s education spokesman Brian Hayes, shows that after Westmeath the next highest rates of early school leaving were in South Dublin County Council with 8.1%, Carlow (7.5%), Cavan (7.4%) and Longford (7.2%).

The other council areas with above-average dropout rates are Dublin city, Clare, Galway city, Louth, Laois, Cork city, Offaly and Kildare.

Sligo has the lowest level, with 36 of the county’s 900 15-year-olds, or 4%, no longer attending school.

In contrast with South Dublin County Council, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is second- best, having 4.5% of its 15-year-olds no longer in school. Roscommon, Monaghan and Leitrim have the next lowest rates with 5% or fewer having left school.

In the written reply accompanying the figures given to Mr Hayes, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said it should be borne in mind that the figures might be affected by the fact the age of 15 was used in a filter question on the Census form, resulting in a possible over-statement of the number of 15-year-olds who had ceased education.

In response to last month’s revelation that dropout rates had more than doubled since 1996, the National Educational Welfare Board said a primary pupil database is needed to ensure it can monitor the progress of all pupils as they complete their primary education.

The absence of such a system means that children can drop out without beginning second level but there is nothing to make authorities aware of the situation.

It is estimated that about 1,000 children drop out after finishing primary school every year.

The geographical breakdown shows that 40 15-year-olds in Limerick city were no longer going to school.

Dropout rate by local authority area

Sligo: 4%

Dún Laoghaire-

Rathdown: 4.5%

Roscommon: 4.6%

Monaghan: 4.8%

Leitrim: 5%

Waterford

County: 5.1%

Mayo: 5.7%

Kilkenny: 5.8%

Limerick city: 5.8%

South Tipperary: 5.8%

North Tipperary: 5.9%

Waterford city: 5.9%

Donegal: 5.9%

Meath: 6%

Wicklow: 6%

Kerry: 6%

Cork county: 6.1%

Limerick county: 6.1%

Fingal: 6.2%

Wexford: 6.2%

Galway county: 6.2%

National Average: 6.3%

Kildare: 6.4%

Offaly: 6.6%

Cork city: 6.6%

Laois: 6.8%

Louth: 6.9%

Galway city: 6.9%

Clare: 7%

Dublin city: 7.2%

Longford: 7.2%

Cavan: 7.4%

Carlow: 7.5%

South Dublin: 8.1%

Westmeath: 8.5%

* Figures show percentage of 15-year-olds no longer in education