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Donegal drop-out rate fears
09.11.07
DONEGAL saw 136
fifteen-year olds drop out of school in the last
five years, new figures show.
And Deputy Joe McHugh warned that the numbers would
get worse unless the Government employed more
education welfare officers (EWOs) to counter the
problem.
The Fine Gael T.D., said there were currently only
83 such officials employed nationally when the
recommended number is 360. |
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“With 136 fifteen-year
olds ceasing education in Donegal and the numbers
dropping out nationally doubling, it is clear there
is a massive problem on our hands. All the research
in this area indicates that early intervention is
more effective when poor school attendance patterns
have been established than action taken after a
student has ceased attending school.
“EWOs are employed to deal with school attendance
and intervene early in crisis cases but only
one-quarter of the necessary number of officers are
in operation in the country," warned Deputy McHugh. |
"Despite
recommendations that 360 are needed nationally, the
Fianna Fáil Government has only employed 83 EWOs
making early intervention near impossible."
Deputy McHugh said the National Education Welfare
Board (NEWB) which co-ordinates the EWOs does not
have the resources or capacity to respond early
enough in a child’s life.
"Due to the huge volume of referrals, the quality of
the response is being diluted. Outside of
disadvantaged areas, the board can only respond
where children are absent for 60 days or more," he
added.
“This is simply not good enough and we are seeing
the result of Government inaction in Donegal. The
necessary education supports have not been put in
place and it is the 136 early school leavers that
are paying the price." |
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