HC Deb 30 June 1988 vol 136 cc518-9
8. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the average number of O-level passes, grades A to C or CSE grade 1, per pupil in the last year for which statistics are available; and if he will make a statement.

Dr. Mawhinney

The information is not available in the form requested. However, information from the school leavers survey shows that of all pupils who left school in 1985–86, 12.2 per cent. had a highest qualification of five or more O-levels. That compares with the 11.3 per cent. of school leavers in England and 10.4 per cent. in Wales. On the other hand, a relatively higher proportion of pupils in Northern Ireland left school with no qualifications.

Mr. Greenway

Will my hon. Friend congratulate the schools in Northern Ireland on those results? However, is he satisfied that the GCSE is sufficiently rigorous to test those pupils at the top of the range and that adequate arrangements can be made to produce suitable new course work for those who will have to retake the GCSE examination, having failed it this summer?

Dr. Mawhinney

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his commendation of all the teachers in the Province, and I am sure that they too will be grateful. As in England and Wales, we have just had the first GCSE examinations and they have gone smoothly. I know that my hon. Friend will want to join me in expressing the hope that, arising out of the education reform consultation proposals, we shall be able to improve still further education standards in Northern Ireland, particularly for the almost one in four of our young people who leave school with no recognised qualification.

Mr. Beggs

Will the Minister recognise that one reason why so many young people leave school in Northern Ireland with no qualification—the one in four to whom he referred—is that they are under pressure to take the first available job that comes along? Will he endeavour to take account of that and persuade his colleagues in the Northern Ireland Office that they too must seek every opportunity to attract and create real jobs so that there is real hope for our young people in schools and colleges?

Dr. Mawhinney

Of course young people in Northern Ireland have employment problems. The hon. Gentleman will recall that in yesterday's debate there were expressions of appreciation for the work that successive Northern Ireland Ministers have done to try to reduce the levels of unemployment in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, it remains true that almost one in four of our young people are leaving school with no recognised qualifications, compared with about one in 10 in England and Wales. I know that that is a matter of anxiety for the hon. Gentleman, just as it is for me.