Statistics tell us that less than half,about 40 percent, will graduate high school.

VOA: standard.2009.12.04

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization has redoubled its efforts in the past year toward literacy, the training of teachers, and the establishment of school statistics.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES

Thousands of children are being unofficially excluded from school, and official statistics showing a drop in exclusions are misleading, says the children's charity Barnardo's.

BBC: 'Illegal' school exclusions on the rise, says charity

Say no, and bump up their school's truancy statistics?

BBC: Q&A: Truancy 'fast track'