Half of mayo students believe they will emigrate

Almost half (48%) of students in Mayo believe they will emigrate at some point in the future. That's according to the Studyclix annual Student Sentiment Index, which surveyed some 4,822 secondary school students nationwide.

The index explores a range of national topics and day to day issues experienced by second-level students. Just over half (56%) admitted school has been the most stressful thing in their life over the last year, a further 55% feel they are ‘addicted’ to their phones, while 24% of students have experienced cyber-bullying in the last school year.

On the same sex marriage referendum, 80% of students would like to see the referendum passed.

Here in Mayo, 27% of students believe religion should be a compulsory subject in school.

On emigration, 47% of females and 46% of males surveyed think that they will probably emigrate to a different country at some point. One of the highest 'yes' responses was found in Mayo (48%), with 41% saying maybe and only 11% saying 'no', they will not emigrate.

On smoking and drinking, only 3% of students surveyed smoke. Figures for alcohol consumption are higher, with 42% of students revealing that they drink ‘regularly’. Some 88% of first year students ‘never drink’ and 6% drink on ‘special occasions’. This figure incrementally increases and decreases for sixth year students - 19% questioned ‘never drink’ and 65% drink on ‘special occasions’.