64% of poor kids left withpoor Maths

LESS than half of poor children leaving Northern Ireland schools at the end of 2010/11 achieved English or Maths qualifications at a level recognised internationally as the standard required to function in today’s society, according to Education Minister John O’Dowd.

Numeracy and literacy amongst local pupils entitled to free school meals was much lower than amongst the population at large.

Just 44 per cent of Free School Meal Entitlement (FSME) school leavers achieved grade A*-C or an equivalent qualification in English in 2010/11, whilst just 37.6 per cent achieved these grades in Match.

This compared to 69.1 per cent and 65.4 per cent across school leavers generally.

Mr O’Dowd stated: “A GCSE grade A*-C is equivalent to a Level 2 qualification, recognised internationally as the standard required to function in today’s society.”

He added: “Clearly, there is a need for improvement particularly for FSME pupils - 56 per cent of FSME school leavers are not achieving a grade A*-C or equivalent qualification in English and almost 64 per cent of FSME school leavers not achieving at this level in maths.

“Also of concern is the percentage of FSME school leavers not getting even a GCSE grade G or equivalent qualification.

“Improvement is needed in both the primary and post-primary school sectors. The Chief Inspector’s Report 2010-12 highlighted the fact that almost one in five of primary school pupils is not at the expected level of literacy and numeracy when they transfer to post-primary school.

“The report also advised that, literacy co-ordinators, heads of departments and teachers of English in post-primary schools need to work together to address deficits in children’s literacy, before, during and after their transition to post-primary education and, in almost half of post-primary school maths departments inspected, leadership and management needs to improve.”