Number Of Students Staying At School Reaches Record High

Senator Mary Moran, Labour Seanad spokesperson on education, has today welcomed the report published by the Department of Education which shows that the number of students staying at school to complete their second level education is at the highest rate ever.

She said: "This is very encouraging news today. The overall rate of students completing second level education is now at over 90%, the highest ever. In county Louth, the rate of retention for completion of Junior Cycle is 96.48% and for Leaving Cert is 89.56%. I am particularly pleased to see that nationally the number of young men remaining in education to complete the senior cycle has shown a significant rise of 16% in the last 11 years.

"It is clear that the Government's support of the DEIS schools has greatly helped in retention rates for students in disadvantaged areas and the School Completion Programme has also played a significant part in encouraging students to complete their education. We must continue to support these programmes to ensure that the most vulnerable children get the best support we can offer to avail of educational opportunities. Our early school leaver rate has now fallen to 10.6%, down from 13% in 2004. This is well below the EU average of 14%. This report shows the results of data from students who started Junior Cycle in 2005/2006 and who completed Leaving Cert in 2010/12."

(CD/GK)