More than 63,000 students received their Leaving Certificate results this morning. A breakdown shows higher success rates in science, Irish and foreign languages, but poorer grades in history. Education Minister, Michael Woods, said that young people should look to the future with confidence and enthusiasm regardless of the specific results they obtained.
Meanwhile, the Minister has confirmed he will be establishing a high-level group to examine barriers to education shortly. The group will also examine the lack of access to higher education for many young people. Speaking in Waterford, the Minister said that there was a 19 per cent dropout rate between those doing the Junior Cert and those going on to do the Leaving Cert. The proposed high-level group will include representatives of teachers, institutes of technology, and universities. Mr Woods said that it would be as broad based as possible.
