leavers will become ‘ the disappeared’ of Irish education
(22 Jan 2009)
School leavers will become ‘ the disappeared’ of Irish education
A survey that has previously highlighted government failures to reduce the number of young people dropping out of school is to be axed by the Department of Education. The discontinuation of the ESRI’s School Leavers Survey (SLS) will lead to an information deficit on the most marginalised students, TUI believes.
Speaking today, TUI President, Don Ryan said:
“We are deeply concerned about the axing of this report. It is absolutely vital that the progress of every child through our education system is monitored so that we know why drop-out occurs and what measures we need to consider to remedy the situation.”
“There is now a severe risk that there will be an information deficit on the progress and fate of these marginalised young people, who will then in every sense become ‘the disappeared’ of Irish education. “
“The most disadvantaged students have already been specifically targeted in a range of cuts to the Leaving Certificate Applied and Junior Certificate Schools Programme. Now our policy makers are seeking to ignore their plight completely by discontinuing the survey.”
“Even at the height of our economic boom, the drop out ratio of one-in-five remained unacceptably high. Now more than ever, we need to know why these young people are disengaging themselves from the system.”
“We need fresh up to date data in order that appropriate education and training measures are in place to ensure retention.”