Thousands of school children are failing to reach their fifth year of second-level study, new research has shown.

Published by the Department of Education, the report revealed 4,300 students quit school in years one to four annually, with this number rising to 7,713 for the full duration of second-level school, the Irish Examiner reports.

The data looked at Ireland's 730 second-level schools in the 2009-2010 school year and revealed more than 1,500 pupils only made it as far as the first or second year, with a further 1,777 quitting in third year.

This study is one of two newly-released by the department, with the other showing that 50 per cent of students enrolled in the final year of Senior Cycle in a Department of Education & Skills-supported post-primary schools in 2010 progressed directly to higher education.

Minister for Education and Skills Ruairi Quinn commented: "This new research will provide a baseline for tracking school leavers in the years ahead and will fill current data gaps."

Written by Donal Walsh

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