Record junior cycle completion hits 98.4%, highest since records began

The Government have welcomed the publication of the latest retention rates report, showing encouraging progress across Ireland’s post-primary education system.

The report highlights a significant amount of progress, with several indicators seeing record highs. The report shows that 98.4% of students have completed the Junior Cycle, which is the highest student retention rate since records began. The Government say that this reflects strong engagement in post-primary education.

When it came to the Senior Cycle, 90% of students progressed to sit the Leaving Certificate, maintaining strong overall retention levels. This progression was also represented among the Leaving Certificate Applied programme, which received a retention rate of 86.1%, which was a record level.

Targeted programmes also saw massive improvements. The Junior Certificate Programme recorded a completion rate of 99.2%. This was further represented in advancing inclusion. Retention among Traveller students has reached a record 92.5%, a massive increase from 78.3% in the previous cohort.

The Government also say that progress has been made in addressing educational disadvantages. DEIS schools improved their retention rate to 84.1%, with the gap between DEIS and non-DEIS schools narrowed by 1 percentage point.

The Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, said: “These record levels of retention across our post-primary system demonstrate the real and sustained impact of our investment in education and targeted supports, ensuring more young people than ever are supported to complete their schooling and reach their full potential in an inclusive and high-quality education system.”