The Education Ministry is working on creating a database to investigate the significant dropout rates of students transitioning from primary to secondary schools and to determine where these students go after leaving the education system.
Permanent Secretary for Education Selina Kuruleca presented this initiative to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, which reviewed the Education Ministry’s annual reports spanning from 2018 to 2021.
Kuruleca highlighted the concerning statistic that out of 150,640 students in primary school, only 66,000 make the transition to secondary school, indicating a loss of approximately 50 to 60 percent of the student population. “Where have these children gone? That is the question,” she remarked.
Currently, the Coalition Government is collaborating on enhancing the Education Management Information System (EMIS) to include an exit dropdown menu for tracking students. Kuruleca explained that the system would allow for better understanding of a student’s status upon leaving, whether they have moved abroad, decided not to pursue further education, passed away, or are unable to attend school due to medical conditions.
While anecdotal evidence provides some insight, Kuruleca emphasized the need for accurate data collection, stating that they are actively working with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia, as well as their own IT team, to develop this capability.