The drop-out rate for Newfoundland young people reached 7.4% between 2007 and 2010, according to Statistics Canada, down from an average of 19.9% in the period between 1991 and 1993.
The rate fell most dramatically in the period between 1993 and 2005 when the rate fell from 19.9% to between 8% and 10%.
That’s also the period when Newfoundland and Labrador eliminated denominationally-based education. Prior to educational reform under the Liberal administrations of Clyde Wells and later Brian Tobin, control of education as divided among seven Christian denominations.
The provincial government eliminated denominational education in 1997 following two referenda. In the second vote, an overwhelming majority of those holding educational rights voted to abolish the system.
Education has a smaller share of the current provincial budget than it was in 1995.
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