Information for Schools

The Short-term and Long-term Outcomes of the Programme

Educational Disadvantage Status of our Schools

Both schools involved in the programme are part of the Department of Education & Science ‘DEIS’ (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) Initiative and ‘RAPID’ (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development). RAPID is a Government Initiative which targets 45 of the most disadvantaged areas in the country.

Educational Disadvantage is defined in the Education Act (1998) as “…the impediments to education arising from social or economic disadvantage which prevents students from deriving appropriate benefit from education in schools”.   DEIS believes “there is ample evidence to show that it is children from disadvantaged communities who constitute a majority of those who currently fail to benefit from the education system, and that under- achievement in school can have inter-generational effects on families.         Deprivation demands that a systematic, integrated and effective strategy is put in place to address educational disadvantage”.

Pathways Through Education is a systematic, integrated and effective strategy addressing educational disadvantage in these schools.

Common Problems Faced in our Schools

Our schools experience typical problems associated with educational disadvantage – absenteeism, poor educational attainment, high drop-out rates and extremely poor participation at third level education. For example in one school statistics show that in 1996/97 18.8% of students dropped out of school without completing the Junior Certificate.   Following a First Year group from 1992 to 1997 51% had dropped out by the end of their 5th Year.   More recent figures show a dramatic improvement in these drop-out rates.
It is accepted by both Principals that Pathways through Education has played a significant role in this reduction.