Education Ministry Says Dropout Rate Went Down

THE Ministry of Public Educationhas announced that fewer students havedropped out of school this year, comparedto last year. Although four months remainin the school year, Education MinisterManuel Bolaños has said he expects therate to remain lower than 2003.In the nation’s elementary schools, thedropout rate through July of this year was1.4%, and officials are expecting an annualrate of 2.7%, compared to 3.9% in2003.In high school, as of July, 4.4% of studentshad dropped out, and officials estimatea total of 9% by the end of the year.Last year, the total dropout rate for highschool students was 10.4%.These statistics show efforts to keepstudents in school have been a success,according to Bolaños. An increasing numberof scholarships, improved transportationand new schools and lunchroomshave better met student needs, theMinister said last week.