Survey shows high rate of early school-leaving

Almost 3,400 pupils leave school every year without any formal qualifications, according to a survey by the National Economic and Social Forum.

The survey shows that as many as 13,000 pupils drop out of school before their Leaving Cert each year and advises that the problem be tackled a lot earlier than Junior Cert level.

The NESF survey also recommends action to reduce the number of Leaving Cert students working while in school.

Nearly 60% of those questioned admitted working in part-time jobs while studying for their final exams.

Marie Damaswamy, president of the National Parents Council, said the problem can be traced back to large class sizes.

"When you have a child going into school in a large class and they are weak in their academic work, they have a difficulty in keeping up with the rest of the students," she said.

"They lose out and certainly they feel inadequate by the end of term because throughout the term, it escalates - they fall further and further behind."

Ms Damaswamy also laid the blame for the problem of early school-leaving with the Government.

"At this stage, in 2002, we should have half the class sizes that we have at the moment," she said.

"I know the Government say the money isn’t there, I know they’re on a budget, but surely our children come first in this country."