McEntee plans to tackle drop-off in school attendance with supports for at-risk pupils
The €180 million-a-year Deis programme provides additional supports such as smaller class sizes and extra resources to about 260,000 students. Photograph: iStockin areas where children are at the highest risk of disadvantage will benefit from enhanced funding and staffing supports under a new “Deis-plus” programme.The number of schools that stand to benefit, and the extent of additional funding and supports for individual schools, has yet to be finalised, however.
The proportion of pupils missing 20 or more days of school at primary level has more than doubled from 11 per cent before the pandemic to 25 per cent in the 2022/23 school year. Absenteeism rates are higher again for schools in disadvantaged areas, where 42 per cent of primary pupils missed 20 school days or more.
She said Ms McEntee will engage with key stakeholders in the development of the scheme with a view to addressing student retention until theThe Minister wants a new Deis plan to include building stronger links with further and higher education and into the world of work. This would involve a focus on career guidance, as well as developing placements and work experience.
He said targeted supports will have the biggest impact in improving literacy and numeracy in our schools.
Primary-Level Second-Level Helen-Mcentee
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