Number of students finishing second level at all-time high

THE NUMBER of students staying in school to complete their second-level education has risen significantly and is now at its highest rate on record, according to a Department of Education report.

The survey found 87.7 per cent of those who started second-level education in 2004 went on to sit their Leaving Cert, an increase of 6 per cent on those who started the cycle in 1996. The most dramatic increase was in the percentage of young men staying in the classroom, which rose by 11.7 per cent to 82.4 per cent.

Despite the rise, there was still a 4.2 per cent gender gap, with 86.5 per cent of female students completing second level.

While retention rates across secondary-level schools have been gradually rising since 1991, a more pronounced rise in the number of students staying on over the last two years was most likely associated with the labour market downturn, the report noted.

A regional breakdown showed Co Longford had the highest retention rate in the State at 89.4 per cent, followed by Mayo at 88.6 per cent. Limerick city had the lowest rate at 77.6 per cent, followed by Dublin city at 80.1 per cent and Cork city at 80.6 per cent.

The report indicated retention rates in disadvantaged schools, supported by the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools programme, increased by 5 per cent to 73.2 per cent between the 2001 to 2004 entry cohorts.

The latest data on early school leavers for all 27 EU states from 2009 showed Ireland, with 11 per cent, was well below the EU average of 14 per cent.

Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn said the high number of young men now completing their Leaving Cert exams was a “welcome development”. While admitting the recession was “possibly a factor” in the reduced dropout rate, he suggested measures taken by the department, such as the extra resources for school completion programmes, were also likely to have improved retention rates.

The Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland described the findings as a “morale boost” for the Irish education system.