Leaving Cert numbers at all-time high

THE recession may be having a positive impact in schools as the numbers staying on to sit the Leaving Certificate have reached an all-time high.

However, while the proportion of students who do not finish school has fallen to less than one-in-six for the first time, statistics to be published today also suggest those who leave school are doing so at an earlier age.

The 5.5% of almost 57,000 students who started second level education in 2004 but who did not sit the Junior Certificate in 2007 is up from less than 4% of those who should have taken the exam in 2004.