Schools ‘fail’ to prepare students for life or work

THE vast majority of school leavers feel the education system has not prepared them for adult life or work, a study by the Government’s economic think-tank has found.

The survey by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) found two out of three Leaving Cert students believed they did not have sufficient computer skills or were ready and able to take on jobs. And just over a third thought the school system had boosted their self-confidence.

The study’s co-author Dr Delma Byrne said the Government should be concerned by the findings. “We were surprised,” said Dr Byrne. “It just really highlights issues for school leavers in the current economic climate. As well as the computer skills, it seems that many of them feel that they are not really prepared for adult working life, which really raises questions as to their adaptability in the current economic climate.”

The School Leavers’ survey report 2007, which interviewed more than 2,000 school leavers from the 2004/2005 academic year, found:

n39% of Leaving Cert students felt the school system had boosted their self-confidence.

nOnly about 30% felt they were prepared for work, had proper computer skills or were ready for adult life.

The findings differed little between those who sat their Junior and Leaving Certificates and those who dropped out without taking any exams with those who left school without qualifications.

It also found thousands of early school leavers face serious difficulties finding work because they are still being trained for jobs that have disappeared along with the Celtic Tiger. More than 12,000 young men are on apprenticeships mainly related to the construction industry.

Ms Byrne said the education system must focus more than on just academia. “It really just brings the discussion forward as to what should be taught as part of the curriculum, as well as the emphasis on the points system and getting on to college,” Ms Byrne said.

While the report found an over-reliance on industry and the construction sector for jobs among school leavers, the numbers completing school was at an all-time high. The numbers leaving school with the Leaving Cert had jumped from 60% in 1980, when the first survey was carried out, to 86% in 2007.

Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes said he was “unsurprised” by the report’s findings. “It is accepted now both nationally and internationally that our investment on technology in schools is pretty much third world.

“The Government gave a commitment in the National Development Plan to spend €270 million on upgrading computer facilities in schools, this has not happened. We effectively have one computer for six kids in post primary whereas in Britain it is one to three.”

Due to Department of Education cutbacks there are no plans to continue the survey.