Level of school finishers remains static

THE percentage of students completing second-level education has not increased in the past 15 years, a major survey has revealed.

Many of the one-in-five teenagers which the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) says are dropping out before the Leaving Certificate are going on to alternative education.

Those who do not face worsening job prospects.

The ESRI 2006 Annual School Leavers’ Survey examined the fortunes of almost 2,000 young people who finished second level in 2003 and 2004. It found 82% obtained the Leaving Certificate, 14% had completed the Junior Certificate and 4% had no qualifications. This shows no improvement from the rates in the early 1990s, which have remained between 79% and 82% since 1991.

Co-author Dr Selina McCoy said: “This is despite the fact there has been considerable policy attention over recent years focused on boosting second-level retention rates, with revised curriculum in many subjects and increased supports for students with special needs.”

However, while the proportions leaving school early have barely changed, some of them are taking alternative courses through further education, Youthreach, Community Training Centres and Senior Traveller Training.

For those without the Leaving Certificate or Junior Certificate, Dr McCoy said it is getting harder to find work, partly as they are now competing for low-paid jobs with growing numbers of women returning to work, college students in part-time employment and immigrants.

“They might get short-term casual work but they’re not going to get anything better than that. The booming economy may have been a factor in people continuing to leave school but things could change as it slows down again.

“The Department of Education’s target of having 90% school completion is a bit idealistic, but it’s an issue which still has to be addressed as the Leaving Certificate is a minimum requirement for most jobs now.”

The ESRI survey found the main reasons students dropped out of school were because they were unchallenged or bored at school, or had difficult relationships with teachers.

Of males who left school in 2004 77% had sat the Leaving Certificate, compared to 86% of females, and young men are more vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn as they are becoming increasingly concentrated within narrow sectors of the labour market.

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) yesterday urged a major increase in educational psychologists available to schools, as charities such as St Vincent de Paul continue to pay for assessments for many schools.

In its pre-budget submission, it is also seeking set numbers of special needs and resource teachers for all schools and time to be set aside for staff who prepare education plans for those with learning difficulties.

TUI president Tim O’Meara said: “Schools have disgracefully inadequate access to the National Educational Psychological Service, and many children experience long delays before being assessed.

“This leads to an adverse effect on their educational and social progress and some others, we suspect, are never assessed and fail to progress.”