Garcia: School dropouts, violence fall

Speaking in the Senate, Garcia disclosed that in primary schools for the period 2015- 2016, drop outs stood at 151 (82 male, 69 female). For the same period in secondary schools, there was a total of 902 drop outs (546 male, 356 female).

According to the statistics provided by Garcia, there was a total of 1,117 drop outs (651 male, 466 female) in the primary school system from the 2008/2009 to the 2015/2016 academic years.

For the same periods, there was a total of 9,955 drop outs (5,492 male, 4,463 female) in the secondary school system. Garcia expressed satisfaction particularly with the reduction of primary school and secondary school drop outs between the 2014/2015 and 2015/ 2016 academic years. He noted that 2014/2015 was the last academic year under the former People’s Partnership government.

Garcia explained that drop outs refer to students who have discontinued their education during an academic year (September to July) and have been absent from the beginning of the next academic year up to November 30. The minister said that date is school census day and the mandatory age to attend school was increased from 12 to 16 years.

Garcia identified the economic situation which some children and their families find themselves in as a reason for children dropping out of school. He said since assuming office, the ministry has been employing a school based management system and other strategies to encourage students to go to school.

The minister said while certain postings on social media gave the impression that “things are out of control” in the nation’s schools, this is not the case. Garcia said there has been a 14.2 percent reduction in suspensions at primary schools and a 25 percent decrease in suspensions at secondary schools from 2015 to 2016. He added that extended suspensions decreased by 63 percent during this period. Garcia explained that all schools are required to have disciplinary committee and a discipline plan.