Current status: Answered by Henry McLeish on 25 August 1999
To ask the Scottish Executive how many higher and further education students have fallen ill during their studies and been unable to continue with their course as a result, in 1998/9 and the previous three academic years.
Information is not collected centrally on further education or higher education students attending Further Education institutions who fall ill during their studies. However, this information is available for students in Higher Education Institutions, and is given in the table below. Information for 1998-99 is not yet available.Students do not continue with their studies for a variety of reasons which can be complex in nature. The information shown below is for the main reason cited by the student or presumed by the institution. Deceased students are not included with those who gave health reasons as the cause of leaving without completing the course.Students who left Higher Education Institutions in Scotland without Completing their Course1 who gave 'Health2 Problems' as the Reason for Leaving: 1995-96 to 1997-98 Academic Year Post- graduate First Degree Sub Degree Total HE FE TOTAL 1995-96 54 352 47 453 3 456 1996-97 59 298 81 438 2 440 1997-98 68 282 88 438 4 442 1