§ 10. Mr. Forthasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many school leavers in Northern Ireland obtain one or more A-levels.
§ Dr. MawhinneyIn 1983–84, the latest year for which figures are currently available, the number was 6,217—about 22.5 per cent. of all school leavers.
§ Mr. ForthWill my hon. Friend accept the congratulations of the House on those excellent results? Will he explain to the House why those results are so excellent? Will he have a word with our right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to give him some guidance as to how we might achieve the same level of excellence on the mainland as we have managed in Northern Ireland?
§ Dr. MawhinneyI am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. There are several excellent schools in Northern Ireland and parents are committed to ensuring that their children are educated as well as possible. I am sure that both those factors, together with the fact that in several schools the teaching is directed closely towards examinations, help to give the good A-level results that are achieved.