asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools that were invited to participate in the National Parents' Council; the number that accepted the invitation; the number that did not accept the invitation; the number of applications that were late; and if she is satisfied that the return of late applications from responsible people indicates the lack of concern by boards of management regarding primary school children's education.
Written Answers. - National Parents' Council.
510.
I propose to circulate in the Official Report a copy of the Department's circular letter No. 7/85.
The boards of management of each of the 3,400 national schools were requested to convene a general meeting of the parents of the children attending the school on or before 31 January 1985 to elect parents to attend regional meetings and to forward the names and addresses of the delegates elected so as to reach the Department not later than 7 February 1985.
2,711 schools responded in time; a further 288 schools sent in nominations too late for the parents to be registered and authorised to attend the regional meetings. I am satisfied with the response of boards and parents to my initiative in regard to the establishment of a parents' council. I cannot accept the premise as set out in the question that boards of management who did not respond in time showed a lack of concern regarding primary school children's education. It is my experience that boards generally serve the individual schools well and work hard for the maintenance of schools and the development of primary education in their area.
6. The result of the ballot will be notified to the parents.
The Minister wishes to see a Parents' Association formed in association with every National School and would urge that the above meetings be used also for the purpose of establishing such an Association, where one does not already exist.
|
D. Ó Braoná, Rúnaí |
January, 1985. |
Imlitir 7/85
An Roinn Oideachais
Bunbhrainse
Comhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí
Is main leis an Aire Oideachais a chur in iúl do Bhoird Bhainistíochta, i gcomhréir lena geallúint faoi chuidiú le tuismitheoirí chun Comhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí a chur ar bun, go bhfuiltear tar éis sraith de chruinnithe a thionól le húdaráis éagsúla Bhainistíochta Scoileanna Náisiúnta. An meamram atá ag gabháil leis seo, leagann sé amach an fhaisnéis chúlra a bhaineann le bunú Chomhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí. Bheadh an tAire buíoch ach comhoibriú na mBord a fháil sna socruithe maidir le bunú Comhairle dá leithéid.
Chun na Críche sin iarrtar ar gach Bord Bainistíochta cruinniú ginearálta de thuismitheoirí dhaltaí na scoile a thionól ar 31 Eanáir, 1985, nó roimhe sin, ag a dtoghfar an líon cuí ionadaithe i gcomhréir le paragraf 2, leathanach 3 den mheamram atá ag gabháil leis seo, chun críche freastal ar chruinniú réigiúnach. Ba chóir do Chathaoirleach an Bhoird ainmneacha agus seoltaí na n-ionadaithe a thoghfar amhlaidh, maraon le ainm agus uimhir rolla na scoile, a chur ar aghaidh chuig an Roinn ar an fhoirm atá leis seo agus sa chlúdach litreach atá iniata anseo, ar dháta nach déanaí ná 7 Feabhra, 1985.
Ba chóir an nós imeachta seo a leanas a chur i bhfeidhm i dtoghadh na n-ionadaithe:
1. Bhéarfar fógra deich lá ar a laghad faoi na cruinnithe sin do gach duine ar leith atá i dteideal vóta a chaitheamh ag cruinnithe dá leithéid.
2. Ní mór tacaíocht a bheith le gach ainmniúchán.
3. Ceapfar beirt áiritheoirá.
4. Má tharlaíonn gur ionann an líon ainmniúchán a fhaightear agus an líon ionadaithe a bheidh le cur ar aghaidh, measfar an líon sin a bheith tofa.
5. Más mó an líon ainmniúchán a fhaightear ná an líon is gá chun na folúntais a líonadh, déanfar ballóid rúnda ag an gcruinniú agus ainmneofar duine measúil mar Cheann Comhairimh.
6. Cuirfear toradh na ballóide in iúl do na tuismitheoirí.
Is main leis an Aire Cumann Tuismitheorí a fheiceáil á chur ar bun i gcaidreamh le gach Scoil Náisiúnta agus ba mhaith léi go mbeadh sé de sprioc ag na cruinnithe thuasluaite Cumann dá leithéid sin a bhunú in aon chás nach bhfuil ceann bunaithe cheana féin.
|
D. Ó Braoná, Rúnaí |
Eanáir, 1985. |
COMHAIRLE NÁISIÚNTA TUISMITHEOIRÍ
Réamhrá
Is mian leis an Aire Oideachais tagairt do pharagraf 2.21 den Chlár Gníomhach don Oideachas 1984-1987 ina n-abartar "Agus aitheantas á thabhairt do ról príomha na dtuismitheoirí san oideachas agus don chúnamh tábhachtach atá tugtha acu do fhorás an oideachais, éascófar na tuismitheoirí maidir len iad féin a eagrú í gComhairle Tuismitheoirí trínar féidir tuairimí na dtuismitheoirí a chur in iúl. Rachaidh an Roinn i gcomhairle leis an gComhairle, an uair amháin bunaithe íar bhonn náisiúnta, faoi ábhair a bhaineann le forás an oideachais. Ba chóir don Chomhairle a bheith ionadach go leitheadach do na tuismitheoirí ar fad".
Tá an Roinn faoi láthair ag éascú grúpaí tuismitheoirí maidir le Comhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí a bhunú. Is tríd an Choiste Gnó Náisiúnta a dhéan far an phríomhtheagmháil idir an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí agus an tAire/Roinn, ach ba chóir go dtiocfadh de bhunú na Comhairle go gcuirfí dlús le rannpháirtíocht éifeachtach na dtuismitheoirí san oideachas go logánta ag leibhéal gach scoile ar leith.
Bunphrionsabail
Rachaidh an tAire i gcomhairle leis an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí ar chursaí beartais ghinearálta mar atá:
Feidhmiú ar Chláir Ghníomhaigh don Oideachas 1984-1987 ar bhonn leanúnach.
An Bord Náisiúnta Curaclam agus Scrúduithe.
Ról na dtuismitheoirí san oideachas.
An beartas foriomlán maidir le hIompar Scoile, ach gan baint le cásanna ar leith.
Ionadaíocht na dtuismitheoirí ar bhoird mar an Bord Curaclam agus Scrúduithe.
Beidh de shaoirse ag an gComhairle áitithe a chur faoi bhráid ar ábhair ar bith a bhaineann le beartas ginearálta de réir mar a éiríonn.
Ní bheidh cearta comhairliúcháin ag an gComhairle Tuismitheoirí i leith na n-ábhar seo a leanas:
An scéim Idir-réitigh agus Eadrána do Mhúinteoirí.
Ábhair a bhaineann le coinníollacha seirbhíse do mhúinteoirí.
Ábhair a bhaineann le bainistíocht scoileanna ar leith (do bhreis ar an gceist ghinearálta faoi ról na dtuismi-theoirí mar bhaill de bhoird bhainistíochta).
Tá i gceist go gcuirfear na prionsabail seo a leanas i bhfeidhm agus an Chomhairle á bhunú:
(a) Ní mór deis a thabhairt do na tuismitheoirí uile chun páirt a ghlacadh í dtogha na Comhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí.
(b) Iad siúd as a ndéanfar an coláiste toghchánach agus iad siúd a mbeidh feidhmeannas acu faoin Chomhairle ní mór iad a bheith ina dtuismitheoirí nó ina gcaomhnóirí ag páistí atá ag freastal iarbhír ar scoil ag an leighéal cuí, ag tráth na dtoghchána.
(c) Ní mór leordheiseanna a chur ar fáil le go mbeadh páirt sa Chomhairle ag grúpaí mionúracha (reiligiúnach, scoileanna lán-Ghaelachta, oideachas speisialta).
An uair amháin an Chomhairle bunaithe, ní bheidh a thuilleadh feidhme ag an Roinn maidir le reachtáil na Comhairle, ar acht go ndéantar de réir na dtrí bunphrionsabal a rianaítear romhainn.
Tá sé í gceist go roghnófar Comhairle Náisiúnta ad-hoc a rachaidh ansin i mbun Bunreacht a leagan amach agus rialacha don Chomhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí ar bhonn buan.
Táthar tar éis a chomhaontú go mba chóir dhá shraith a bheith sa Chomhairle — Comhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí Bunscoileanna agus Comhairle Náisiúnta Tuismitheoirí Iarbhunscoileanna — agus soláthar do liasion foirmiúil eatarthu. Táthar tar éis a chomhaontú chomh maith gurbé an bonn is fearr as a bhféad-faí baill a tharraingt chun Comhairle a bhunú ná Cumann Tuismitheoirí a bheith i ngach scoil agus tá na scoileanna ar fad á spreagadh chun cumann áitiúil tuismitheoirí a bhunú áit ar bith nach bhfuil ceann ann cheana féin. Is chuige é sin go n-éascófaí toghcháin do na cruinnithe réigiúnacha agus náisiúnta faoi mar a rianáitear in ár ndiaidh thíos.
Toghfar tuismitheoirí mar thoscairí ó gach scoil ar leith chun freastal ar na cruinnithe ceantair mar a leanas:
Scoileanna le 1 múinteoir go 4 múinteoir, 1 toscaire; Scoileanna le 5 go 9 múinteoir, 2 toscaire; Scoileanna le 10 go 16 múinteoir, 3 toscaire; Scoileanna le 17 múinteoir nó thairis sin, 4 toscaire.
Nuair a thoughfar ionadaithe na dtuismi-theoirí i ngach scoil are leith tionólfaidh an Cigire Ceantair cruinniú de na hionadaithe ó na scoileanna ar fad ina c(h)eantar agus beidh ina c(h)athaoirleach ar an gcruinniú. Ag an gcruinniú sin toghfar ionadaithe chun dul ar aghaidh go dtí cruinniú náisiúnta.
Tá 61 ceantar cigireachta sa tír. Toghfaidh gach ceantar ar leith beirt thoscaire chun dul ar aghaidh go dtí cruinniú náisiúnta. Ceantair áirithe, iad siúd a bhfuil pobail mhóra daltaíiontu, leithdháilfear aon toscaire breise dóibh chun dul ar aghaidh go dtí an cruinniú náisiúnta. Tionólfar cruinniú náisiúnta de thuairim 160 toscaire a bheidh tofa ag na ceantair agus déanfaidh siad sin ar a seal féin 15 ball a thoughadh don Chomhairle Náisiúnta ad-hoc. Cuirfear sé suíochan breise in áirithe do ghrúpaí mionúracha. Na grúpaí mionúracha seo a leanas, a shocróidh a gcuid ionadaíochta féin, do leith-dháileadh suíocháin dóibh mar a leanas:
(A) Reiligiún Mionúrach — 2 suíochán
(B) Oideachas Speisialta — 2 suíochán
(C) Earnáil na Scoileanna Lán-Ghaelacha — 2 suíochán.
Ní choiscfidh sé sin, áfach, na tuismitheoirí sna grúpaí mionúracha ar bheith páirteach go gníomhach sa phróiséas toghchánach ina gcuid scoileanna le haghaidh na suíochán nach bhfuil in áirithe, ag leibhéil áitiúla, leibhéil cheantair agus leibhéil náisiúnta.
NATIONAL PARENTS' COUNCIL
Preamble
The Minister for Education wishes to refer to paragraph 2.21 of the Programme for Action in Education 1984-1987 which states. states.
"Recognising the primary role of parents in education and the important contribution they have made to educational development, parents will be facilitated in organising themselves into a Parents' Council through which the views of parents may be expressed. The Department will consult with the Council, once established on a national basis, on matters relevant to educational development. The Council should be broadly representative of all parents."
The Department is at present facilitating parent groups in the establishment of a National Parents' Council. The National Executive will be the main point of contact between the National Parents' Council and the Minister/Department but a consequence of the establishment of the Council should be the promotion of effective participation by parents in education locally at the level of each individual school.
Fundamental Principles
The Minister will consult with the National Parents' Council on matters of general policy such as:
The on-going implementation of the Programme for Action in Education 1984-87;
The National Curriculum and Examinations Board;
The role of parents in education;
Overall policy in relation to School Transport, but not in relation to individual cases;
Representation of parents on boards such as the Curriculum and Examinations Board.
The Council will be free to make submissions on any matters of general policy which arise.
The Parents' Council will not have rights of consultation in relation to the following matters:
The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration for Teachers; Matters relating to conditions of service for teachers; Matters relating to qualifications for appointment as teachers; Matters concerning the management of individual schools (other than the general question of the role of parents as members of management boards).
It is intended that the following principles will govern the establishment of the Council:
(a) All parents must be given the opportunity of participating in the election of a National Parents' Council.
(b) Those forming the electoral college and those holding office in the Council must be parents of guardians of children actually attending school at the appropriate level, at the time of elections.
(c) There must be adequate opportunities provided for participation in the Council by minority groups (religious, all-Irish schools and special education).
Once the Council has been established, the Department will have no further function with regard to how the Council is run, provided the three basic principles already outlined are complied with. It is intended to elect and ad-hoc National Council which will then proceed to draw up a Constitution and rules for the permanent National Parents' Council.
It has been agreed that there should be two tiers to the Council — a Primary National Parents' Council and a Post-Primary National Parents' Council — with provision for formal liaison between them. It has also been agreed that the best basis from which to draw members to form a Council is to have a Parents' Association in every school and all schools are being urged to establish a local Parents' Association where one does not already exist. This is in order to facilitate elections to the regional and national meetings as outlined below.
Parents will be elected as delegate(s) from each school to attend the district meeting as follows:
Schools with 1 to 4 teachers: 1 delegate; Schools with 5 to 9 teachers: 2 delegates; Schools with 10 to 16 teachers: 3 delegates; Schools with 17 or over teachers: 4 delegates.
When the parents' representatives are elected in each school, the District Inspector will convene and chair a meeting of representatives from all schools in his/her district. At this meeting, representatives will be elected to go forward to a national meeting.
There are 61 Inspectorial districts in the country. Each district will elect two delegates to go forward to a national meeting. Certain districts, those which have large pupil populations, will be allocated 1 extra delegate to go forward to the national meeting. A national meeting will be held of some 160 delegates elected by the districts and they in turn will elect 15 members to the ad-hoc National Council. A further 6 seats will be reserved for minority groups.
The following minority groups who will arrange their own representation have been allotted seats as follows:
(A) Minority Religious — 2 Seats
(B) Special Education — 2 Seats
(C) All-Irish School Sector — 2 Seats
This does not preclude, however, the parents in the minority groups from being actively involved in the electoral process through their schools for the unreserved seats at local, district and national levels.