The numbers of students staying on in school to complete their Leaving Certificate exams is at its highest level ever.

This is according to a new report from the Department of Education, which revealed fewer boys are dropping out early, RTE reports.

Analysing those who entered secondary school between 1991 and 2004 and completed their education at this level no later then 2010, it found 88 per cent of students took the Leaving Certificate.

Overall, this is an increase of six per cent in the last eight years, but the statistics show a rise of 12 per cent for males.

Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn suggested extra resources for school completion programmes and issues in the labour market had contributed to the increase.

Students in County Longford are the most likely to complete second level education, while cities such as Dublin, Cork and Limerick saw the highest drop-out rates.

Recently, the Teachers Union of Ireland's deputy secretary Annette Nolan told the Galway Independent of the importance of protecting the education system from cutbacks, saying such funding reductions would be "counterproductive".

Written by Donal Walsh
 

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