Pass rates are up, but fewer carry on studying

Official statistics published yesterday showed the percentage of school-leavers going on to further study in 2006-7 was almost five per cent down compared to 2000.

The figures were published on the same day that nearly 160,000 youngsters received their exam results.

Pass rates at Higher, Advanced Higher, Standard Grade and Inter-mediate were all at their highest levels since the new qualifications system was introduced.

The overall pass rate for Standard Grades rose from 97.6 per cent in 2007 to 98 per cent this year, and for Highers it rose from 71.7 per cent to 73.4 per cent.

The Scottish Government’s Age Participation Index revealed that in 2006-07, 46.9 per cent of young Scots went on to college or university.

That represents a decrease of 0.2 per cent on the previous year, but between the peak years of 2000-2002, the figure was 51.5 per cent.

The majority of those entering higher education were female at 52.9 per cent, compared to 41.2 per cent for males. 

But Universities Scotland, which represents universities and higher education colleges, pointed out countries like Finland and Sweden achieve participation rates of over 70 per cent.

A spokeswoman said: “If Scotland is to achieve sustainable economic growth in the global economy, it must have the right people and skills to compete.

“All the projections show that growth will occur in occupations that are high skill and at managerial and professional level. If we don’t have the right people to drive these industries forward, Scotland could face serious economic consequences.”

Scottish Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser said issues such as debt could be impacting on young people’s decision to study further.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said there had been a “wide array” of financial measures put in place to improve access to higher education, including scrapping the “unfair” Graduate Endowment.